Month: September 2010

  • Phuket NewsAsian Hospitality & Travel Show starts tomorrow in Phuket

    Asian Hospitality & Travel Show starts tomorrow in Phuket

    PHUKET: The three-day Asian Hospitality & Travel Show, the first Asian trade exhibition bringing together suppliers and exhibitors of every facet of the hospitality and travel industry from all over Asia, kicks of tomorrow at the Häfele Design Center Phuket on the bypass road southbound. The show, proudly sponsored by the Phuket Gazette, will bring together more than 100 exhibitors…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket businessman and companion die in car crash

    Phuket businessman and companion die in car crash

    PHUKET: Well-known Phuket businessman Pornchai Sawasri and a female companion died in a car accident in Thalang last night when Mr Pornchai lost control of his vehicle and hit a power pole after swerving to avoid a dog. Thalang Police were notified of the crash at 9:30pm. At the scene, on a curved section of Thepkrasattri Road northbound opposite the…

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  • Phuket NewsNew Phuket fertility clinic opens tomorrow at PIH

    New Phuket fertility clinic opens tomorrow at PIH

    PHUKET: Adding to Phuket’s medical tourism appeal is the fact that now patients not only have the option of getting popular treatments such as dental work or cosmetic surgery, but also the chance to conceive a baby. A 20-million-baht “Safe Fertility Center” officially opens at Phuket International Hospital (PIH) tomorrow. The largest In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Center in southern Thailand,…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket police identify horror smash victim

    Phuket police identify horror smash victim

    PHUKET: Police have identified the victim of yesterday’s horror smash at Tesco-Lotus junction as Miss Orrasa Pethpattana, a 19-year-old native of Nakhon Thai District in Pitsanuloke. Case investigator Capt Kittiphum Tinthalang of the Phuket Provincial Police told the Gazette Miss Orrasa was riding riding pillion on the motorbike driven by her boyfriend, 27-year-old Yutthapong Deepakdee, when they were hit by…

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  • Phuket NewsThai police pounce on prolific panty perv

    Thai police pounce on prolific panty perv

    PHUKET: A motorbike taxi driver caught red-handed with a bag full of used bras and panties was later found in possession of thousands of women’s undergarments at his home. After arresting 46-year-old Phanu Phloisuwan on September 26, Samut Prakarn City police found a trove of more than 5,000 undergarments, mostly stolen from washing lines over a two-year period. Most of…

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  • Phuket NewsOne dead, two critical following Phuket horror smash

    One dead, two critical following Phuket horror smash

    PHUKET: A young student is dead and two other people seriously injured after a 22-wheel tractor-trailer rig slammed into two motorcycles at the Tesco-Lotus junction at around noon today. Witnesses told the Gazette that the truck, traveling on the bypass road southbound, ran a red light as westbound traffic pulled out of Yaowarat Road in the direction of Kathu. One…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket governor and wife bid farewell

    Phuket governor and wife bid farewell

    PHUKET: Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop and his wife Thaisika left the Governor’s Mansion early this morning, his Mercedez-Benz trailed by a van full of Phuket government officers and members of the media who will travel with him all the way back to his home in Nakhon Pathom. Among the 300 people who got up early to send off Gov Wichai was…

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  • Phuket NewsUNFAO hopes for “Phuket Agreement” on aquaculture

    UNFAO hopes for “Phuket Agreement” on aquaculture

    PHUKET: Hot on the heels of the Global Conference On Aquaculture 2010 held in Phuket last week, experts have stayed on for a follow-up conference hoping to hammer out an international agreement on guidelines for the fish farming industry worldwide. The fifth session of the Sub-Committee on Aquaculture of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) opened September 27…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket blackout: No power in Rawai tomorrow

    Phuket blackout: No power in Rawai tomorrow

    PHUKET: Residents of Rawai should be reminded that there will be another scheduled power outage from 9am to 4pm tomorrow as the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) continues its work on power lines in the area. The blackout will affect Wiset Road, from Saiyaun Road south to Nai Harn Beach, including Soi Khok Yang, Soi Hua Pru, Soi Khok Makham and…

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  • Phuket NewsScuba Cat team rakes in marine debris off Phuket

    Scuba Cat team rakes in marine debris off Phuket

    PHUKET: Divers of all ages took the plunge Saturday and Sunday as part of dive tour operator Scuba Cat’s contribution to International Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday. A total of 31 divers volunteered their time dragging trash from the depths of the Andaman at Koh Racha Yai over the weekend. The team included Scuba Cat staff, repeat customers and 14…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket Gov farewell wish: Make Saphan Hin road a reality

    Phuket Gov farewell wish: Make Saphan Hin road a reality

    PHUKET: Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop last night called for his successor to continue the fight to complete the Klong Koh Pee road project, which looks set to move forward following a new measure issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) specifically for Phuket. Governor Wichai made the comment during a speech at a farewell press party last night,…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket Town ‘Pink Bus’ project wins ‘innovation’ award

    Phuket Town ‘Pink Bus’ project wins ‘innovation’ award

    PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization’s “Pink Bus” project providing reasonably-priced public transport for Phuket City residents has won a national award for “Local Innovation” from the Prime Minister’s Office. The award was one of 61 awarded to local administration offices by a new Prime Minister’s Office committee on decentralization of power to local administration organizations. A total of 1,003…

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  • Phuket NewsNoisy Phuket teens survive shotgun blast | Thaiger

    Noisy Phuket teens survive shotgun blast

    PHUKET: A teenage couple out joyriding and lighting off firecrackers last night sustained injuries from a shotgun blast that police think was intended as a warning shot. Phuket City Police received a 191 emergency report of the shooting just before midnight. Phuket City Police Superintendent Wanchai Ekpornpit led officials to the scene in front to the Rachada Pub, located along…

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  • Phuket NewsOnly 15 spots left in Phuket Pro-Am charity golf event

    Only 15 spots left in Phuket Pro-Am charity golf event

    PHUKET: The island’s first-ever Pro-Am charity golf tournament is coming to Phuket with more than 30 big names from the PGA Asian Tour signed up to take part. But time is running out for Phuket amateur golfers to get involved in the exciting event, as there are only 15 places left, the organizers say. The 2010 Phuket Property Dot Com…

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  • Phuket News‘India loves Phuket’, travel agents say

    ‘India loves Phuket’, travel agents say

    PHUKET: The Travel Agents’ Association of India (TAAI) expects at least a 100% increase in the number of Indian tourists coming to Phuket next year, TAAI President Rajinder Rai told the Gazette. Some 1,000 Indian travel agents attended a three-day TAAI conference organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The event, hosted by Phuket Fantasea in Kamala, ended yesterday. “Last…

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  • Thailand NewsPhantom pickup: Lost soul lends lottery luck | Thaiger

    Phantom pickup: Lost soul lends lottery luck

    NAKHON SRI THAMMARAT: A homeowner in Thung Song District is thanking a “phantom” emergency rescue vehicle for her luck in winning over 500,000 baht in the underground lottery. The bizarre tale began shortly after midnight on September 3. Pracha Ruamjai Foundation coordinator Akhom Phumiwetphong said that as rescue workers were relaxing at the station that night, one of their Isuzu…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket murder suspect still in UK jail: British Embassy

    Phuket murder suspect still in UK jail: British Embassy

    PHUKET: British Ambassador to Thailand Quinton Quayle this morning confirmed that fugitive murder suspect Lee Aldhouse is still in custody somewhere in the UK. British officials will work closely with their Thai counterparts in their efforts to have the kickboxer extradited to Phuket to face charges for the stabbing murder of American Dashawn Longfellow in Rawai last month, he said.…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket girl wins Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition 2010

    Phuket girl wins Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition 2010

    PHUKET: Indonesian Tipi “The Tiger” Jabrik took first place in the finals of the Men’s shortboard competition at the Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition 2010 yesterday, while 12-year-old Phuket local Annissa Flynn used her knowledge of the “home surf” to take top honors in the women’s shortboard event. Seventy-seven surfers from 10 countries competed in the events, with total cash prizes…

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  • Phuket NewsDiving for debris: Phuket marks Coastal Cleanup Day

    Diving for debris: Phuket marks Coastal Cleanup Day

    PHUKET: Fully-gloved and nets in hand, volunteer divers helped remove about 100 kilograms of rubbish from the sea as part of International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 25. The event was supported by Sea Bees, Scuba Schools International, TDA Diving Association (Thailand) and Green Fins Thailand. Volunteers taking part met at Chalong Pier on Saturday morning for the voyage to…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket villagers ramp up tunnel protest

    Phuket villagers ramp up tunnel protest

    PHUKET: More than 100 villagers from Baan Mon community in Patong descended on Provincial Hall last week to hand a formal letter of complaint to the governor against the proposed Patong Tunnel project. The villagers vowed to fight any government effort to expropriate land needed for the project. Current scheduled rates for expropriation set by the Land Department would never…

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  • Phuket NewsFried chicken vendor is latest Phuket road fatality | Thaiger

    Fried chicken vendor is latest Phuket road fatality

    PHUKET: A fried chicken vendor was killed instantly last night in Kathu when his motorbike was struck by another traveling at high speed. Thung Thong Police were notified of the accident at 8:10pm. Investigations Inspector Chaowalit Petch-sribia rushed to the scene at the entrance to Soi Boon-erb, a well-known traffic danger spot at the base of Patong Hill. Accompanied by…

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  • OpinionOPINION: Big stink at Phuket landmark | Thaiger

    OPINION: Big stink at Phuket landmark

    PHUKET: A meeting earlier this month about problems facing the central stage area at Saphan Hin, a Phuket landmark, ended with an unsurprising result. A new committee will be formed to deal with the issues involved. For readers who missed the Gazette‘s online report last week, the key issues are economic, although some stakeholders have donned the mantle of environmentalism…

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  • Phuket NewsBurmese workers camp burns in Phuket | Thaiger

    Burmese workers camp burns in Phuket

    PHUKET: A Burmese workers’ camp in Phuket burned to the ground in just 20 minutes on Friday night, leading an unknown number of occupants to flee. The fire started around 9pm at the site in Chalong, which housed workers for a stone processing company belonging to a prominent Phuket family. Disaster Prevention and Mitigation staff from Tambon Chalong and Wichit…

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  • Phuket NewsFC Phuket in training in Bangkok | Thaiger

    FC Phuket in training in Bangkok

    PHUKET: FC Phuket are now in their second week of training for the upcoming “mini-league” playoffs to determine which four of the twelve qualifying teams will move up to Division One of the Thai League. Arjhan Songgamsub, head coach of Division 2 South champion FC Phuket, also known as Southern Sea Kirin, said all of his players are in good…

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  • Phuket News‘Toxins for tablets’ with Phuket Safe project

    ‘Toxins for tablets’ with Phuket Safe project

    PHUKET: Island residents can now exchange hazardous household waste for medicine at 36 drugstores as part of a new project called “Phuket Safe”. Starting on Monday this week, 20 drug stores displayed stickers showing their participation in the project, which is a joint initiative between Phuket City Municipality and the Phuket Drug Store Association. Club president Jindee Santikayawakul said the…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket Immigration: No change in visa overstay rules

    Phuket Immigration: No change in visa overstay rules

    PHUKET: The Phuket Immigration chief today denied there have been any formal changes in the way Thai Immigration Police deal with foreigners who overstay their permits-to-stay or who are otherwise discovered to be residing in the Kingdom illegally. Phuket Immigration Superintendent Panuwat Ruamrak admitted receiving “many” calls today following an online media report stating that foreigners who try to depart…

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  • Phuket NewsAll systems go for Phuket Veggiefest 2010

    All systems go for Phuket Veggiefest 2010

    PHUKET: Final preparations are being ironed out for this year’s Phuket Vegetarian Festival, which will kick off with an opening ceremony at Saphan Hin Park at 9am on October 7. The raising of go teng poles to welcome the Chinese Warrior Gods down from their celestial abode will take place at participating shrines later the same day. The ceremony “proper”…

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  • Phuket NewsLexus says “take a free ride’ in Phuket

    Lexus says “take a free ride’ in Phuket

    PHUKET: To mark the opening of its 10th service center in Thailand, at the Toyota Pearl showroom on Thepkrasattri Rd in Rassada, Lexus is now offering free test drives of all its models at Central Festival Phuket. The promotional campaign, which runs until Wednesday, was launched by Toyota Motor Thailand Co Ltd vice-president Sittachai Jiratthanyasakul at the Indigo Pearl resort…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket braces for another anti-smoking crackdown | Thaiger

    Phuket braces for another anti-smoking crackdown

    PHUKET: Patong business operators have been given one month to post No Smoking signs and set up smoking areas in their air-conditioned restaurants and nightclubs, or face a fine of up to 20,000 baht.Smokers found breaking the law will face a fine of up to 2,000 baht.The deadline was handed down by Kathu Police Superintendent Arayapan Pukbuakao on September 14.At…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket Muslims prepare for Hajj

    Phuket Muslims prepare for Hajj

    PHUKET: A Saudi embassy announcement yesterday that it will issue the 13,000 visas necessary for Thai Muslims to join the Hajj this year comes as welcome news for Phuket Islamic Committee President Bamroong Samphaorat. “Saudi Arabia – under no circumstances – associates its relations with any country, with allowing or forbidding Muslims from performing their fifth pillar of Islam of…

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  • Phuket NewsHilton deal to boost golf tourism to Phuket | Thaiger

    Hilton deal to boost golf tourism to Phuket

    PHUKET: The Hilton hotel chain has joined Golfasian, a leading inbound golf tour operator in Thailand to create the Thai marketing cooperative ‘Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience’. The initiative will make it easier for visitors looking for a premium golf holiday to book a variety of stay-and-play itineraries. It is also hoped that Hilton’s involvement will help…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket tourists face jail for long immigration overstays

    Phuket tourists face jail for long immigration overstays

    PHUKET: The Thai Immigration Bureau in Bangkok is now arresting and jailing foreigners with long “overstays” before permitting them to leave the Kingdom, ThaiVisa.com reports. Immigration officers at Suvarnabhumi Airport are apparently fed up with foreigners flouting Thai Immigration law by turning up at the checkpoint with a valid air ticket and the maximum fine of 20,000 baht in hand.…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket tsunami buoy won’t be redeployed in 2010

    Phuket tsunami buoy won’t be redeployed in 2010

    PHUKET: Thailand’s Andaman Coast will be without tsunami direct detection capability when the sixth anniversary of the 2004 disaster arrives in late December, the Gazette has learned. Aurasa Paenghom, general manager of Bangkok-based firm Raydant International, which built and maintains Thailand’s tsunami early warning system, estimates that it will take several months before the tsunami buoy that went adrift in…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket Surf Competition underway

    Phuket Surf Competition underway

    PHUKET: The Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition 2010 is underway at Kata Beach, with finals scheduled for Sunday. Highlights for tomorrow will be a special surf show from 11am to 1pm with two renowned professionals demonstrating their skills. Taking to the surf will be Indonesian Surfing Championship (ISC) president Tipi ‘Tiger’ Jabrik of Indonesia and ISC board member Jake ‘The Snake’…

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  • Phuket News‘Phuket 2.0’: Opportunities for the future seminar on October 1 | Thaiger

    ‘Phuket 2.0’: Opportunities for the future seminar on October 1

    PHUKET: The American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand is teaming up with Laguna Property, C9 Hotelworks and Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket for a special business networking event on October 1. Mark Armsden of Delivering Asia Communications will join a panel of industry experts to discuss Phuket opportunities in the following areas: Hotels and property: Michael Ayling of Laguna Resorts and…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket divers gear up for Coastal Cleanup Day

    Phuket divers gear up for Coastal Cleanup Day

    PHUKET: Phuket’s recreational dive community is gearing up for International Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, with two major cleanup activities planned. The Thai Diving Association, Scuba Schools International and Sea Bees are holding a “big clean-up dive” off Phuket to help save local reefs. The meeting point will be at the Anchor Inn restaurant in Chalong at 9am. Finger food…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket’s budget airlines under fire; Phuket surf; Gas leak | Thaiger

    Phuket’s budget airlines under fire; Phuket surf; Gas leak

    Phuket NEWS Hound – A daily digest of news about Thailand from around the world, compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community. Phuket’s budget airlines facing heat PHUKET: The Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) is summoning low-cost airlines to respond to complaints of unfair charges. The OCPB has issued letters to all low-cost airlines operating in Thailand…

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