Year: 2011
- Phuket News
Phuket resort wins one, loses one
PHUKET: A 98-room resort in Phuket will face legal action for building an access road over a small waterway – even though the resort had written permission from the Patong Mayor. Yet the same Phuket resort has been given a reprieve for operating without a hotel license. The news came during an inspection visit to the APK Resort & Spa…
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Ãngel at Amari
PHUKET: One of Spain’s greatest sports heroes, Ángel Nieto, was in Phuket recently enjoying a break and a good meal at La Gritta at the Amari Coral Beach in Patong before traveling to commentate for Spanish TV on the Sepang Moto GP in Kuala Lumpur. Ángel is one of the most successful motorcycle racers of all time, with 13 Grand…
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Champagne Run with ACYC
PHUKET: The Royal Langkawai International Regatta will be held from January 9 to 14, 2012 and as a lead into the event the Ao Chalong Yacht Club (ACYC) is inviting an expression of interest for the all new “Champagne Run”. The ACYC in conjunction with the Royal Langkawai Yacht Club are organizing an overnight sailing race leaving Chalong Bay on…
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Phuket to put its hat on for the Melbourne Cup
PHUKET: Celebration of Australia’s premiere thoroughbred horse race, the Melbourne Cup, is in sight again with Phuket punters under starters orders and waiting for the off at the Andara Resort in Kamala on November 1. This is the second year that the Soi Dog Foundation has organised another prestigious paddock gathering to mark the “race that stops two nations”, when…
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Phuket cinema – A film that makes you laugh and cry
PHUKET: Leave it to writer/producer Evan Goldberg (Superbad, Pineapple Express) and actor Seth Rogan (of the same films) to make a movie about cancer that is full of hilarious, raunchy comedy and still manages to possess heartfelt sincerity. 50/50 is a rare kind of film. Its themes of comedy and cancer play out much like a sickness does – calming…
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Swiftlet sorrow in Phuket Town
PHUKET: The tenant of a building in Phuket Town has been given 15 days to remove an illegally added fourth floor built as an aviary for swiftlets, the birds that cough up the key ingredient for bird’s nest soup. Phuket officials yesterday investigated an anonymous complaint filed last month about a commercial building located behind the DTAC office on Montri…
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Phuket Gardening – Keeping the flies at bay
PHUKET: As gardeners, we are all susceptible to mosquito bites every morning and evening in Phuket. Unfortunately, there are few entirely effective natural repellents against the dreaded mosquito bite of Aedes aegyptiae, the mosquito that can spread dengue fever and other maladies. DEET, the chemical ingredient in most sprays, certainly is effective. A high intake of garlic may also help.…
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Call for Phuket beauties to join AirAsia pageant
PHUKET: AirAsia is calling for all Phuket maidens to join its “Miss Noppamas” traditional Thai beauty pageant as part of the International Horticultural Exposition Ratchaphruek 2011 that starts in Chiang Mai next month. The Miss AirAsia Noppamas International Beauty Competition 2011 will be held in conjunction with the annual flower show, also called the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek. Prospective contestants will…
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Phuket Poll: Are our roads killing us?
PHUKET: The highways and byways of Phuket have been much in the news recently. It seems that as soon as authorities plan and build new roads, existing ones deteriorate. In the latest Phuket Gazette online poll, we ask our readers to what extent does the state of the roads in Phuket contribute to the number of accidents in the province.…
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Have Thai house, will travel to Phuket
PHUKET: The concept of a mobile home inspires imagery of rectangular, pre-fabricated structures huddled in a trailer park, but in Kata a unique teak wood, Thai-style home exists which falls into this category of movable accommodation. Built over 100 years ago in Ayutthaya, it was purchased by Mrs Pranee Prayot-amornrakul, 57, from Bangkok, who moved to Phuket 22 years ago.…
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Jurgen Zack gives training tips for the Phuket Triathlon
PHUKET: Coming to Phuket for the first time as an athlete 14 years ago had me quite excited. I did not have to worry about cold weather. I could leave my shoe covers and my arm and leg warmers at home. I could work on my physical fitness and my tan. Having been here for awhile, I now recognize the…
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Round-up of Phuket sporting action
PHUKET: The cricket season in Phuket got underway with a friendly between last year’s Island Furniture league champions, Patong CC, and new boys the Thanyapura Tigers (TT) at Cherng Talay. It was a baptism of fire for TT with Patong batting first and posting a score of 214 for 4 after 20 overs. In reply, TT scored 39 runs in…
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Phuket’s Jaray Jearanai made history at the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii
PHUKET: Jaray Jearanai of Phuket has reached a new high in his athletic career after completing the pinnacle of endurance events, the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, in a time of just over 11 hours.This was an outstanding accomplishment for the Laguna Phuket marketing executive considering that it was his first attempt at the full Ironman course, and only weeks…
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On your bike from Phuket to Koh Yao Noi for the kid’s community center
PHUKET: Amazing Bike Tours is organizing a charity bike ride on Koh Yao Noi (Small Long Island) on October 30 to raise money for the Koh Yao Children’s Community Center. The Center is instrumental in teaching the island’s youth about the importance of protecting the environment and preserving the history, culture and traditions of life on Yao Noi. The Center…
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Phuket gets its hooks, lines and sinkers at the ready
PHUKET: Phuket’s seventh International Sport Fishing Tournament has event organizers gearing up for another big catch of participants from around the world. The event takes place from November 23-26. The island’s premier fishing competition has already reeled in 80 fishing enthusiasts who comprise 20 teams, with entries still being accepted via the tournament’s website. The tournament practices “catch and release”…
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Phuket Lifestyle – Cheap glasses a sorry sight
PHUKET: Everyone wants to look good in their new shades, but there are some important health issues and practical points to think about before you run out and buy those designer glasses that make you look absolutely fabulous. The main health reason for wearing sunglasses is to shield your eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays found in natural sunlight. Overexposure…
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French rugby hits puberty
PHUKET: “Yesterday we had the same players out there as in Wellington against Tonga, except that they grew a big pair of balls.” Marc Lievremont, coach of the French national rugby team remarks on their performance after defeating England at the quarter final stage of this year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. A fortuitous France side will play home…
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Phuket Landslide Update: Patong Hill slides continue
PHUKET: Efforts by Phuket authorities to shore up Patong Hill road took a turn for the worse today, when the dirt foundation under a recently “repaired” section of road slid away, taking the breakdown lane with it. The latest slide, from beneath a section that had been covered with blacktop just days before, exposed more soil and increased the chances…
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Tonight: Phuket gets its comedy fix
PHUKET: Tonight, tonight, an Englishman, an Irishman and a Kiwi walk into a bar – and the punchline? The Punchline Comedy Club at the Holiday Inn Resort in Patong is hosting the geographically disparate trio this evening, with doors opening at 8pm – the laughs are scheduled to start at 8:30pm. Englishman Gorden Southern, Irishman Ian Coppinger and Kiwi Andre…
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Phuket road works causing commuter woes
PHUKET: Phuket motorists heading northbound on Thepkrasattri Road in Koh Kaew are advised to plan for delays or use shortcuts, as resurfacing work continues along the busy stretch of road. During yesterday’s evening rush hour the work caused a tailback several kilometers long on Thepkrasattri Road, extending all the way south into Sapam near Sapam Shrine. The work also affected…
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Paris beckons Beckham
PHUKET: “I like Leonardo a lot, he is a great manager. I’m honored to know that he wants me to join PSG. It’s exciting, great things are happening in France. Leonardo has arrived, there’s a lot of money.”36-year-old David Beckham is being courted by French Ligue 1 side, Paris Saint Germain (PSG), as his contract with LA Galaxy will finish…
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Phuket tourism riding high despite Thai floods
PHUKET: While many broad areas across Thailand are suffering from serious flooding, tourists are still heading to Phuket in droves, with the island registering 8.2 million* passengers passing through Phuket International Airport since the beginning of the year. In announcing the news today, Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha said, “Many places in the country are suffering from serious flooding, but Phuket…
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Phuket’s new-look Sarasin Bridge already needs a clean-up
PHUKET: The popularity of the new-look Sarasin Bridge as a tourist attraction is forcing local authorities to address the growing number of mobile vendors who have set up operations at both ends of the span, in Phuket and Phang Nga. Officials are also planning to replace light bulbs at the site damaged by the recent storms. Conversion of the bridge…
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Aussie expat recovers from Phuket balcony fall
PHUKET: Australian national and long-term Phuket resident Rod Palmer has been released from the intensive care unit (ICU) and is now in a general recovery room at Bangkok Hospital Phuket. Mr Palmer fell off a balcony at his home in Rawai last week. He sustained three fractured vertebrae, five fractured ribs, a head injury and other cuts and abrasions in…
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Super Cooper
PHUKET: “Everyone was trying to get at me personally, but I definitely think I’m going to be better off for it. I got used to it and I think I drew a lot of confidence out of it. It was just about getting on and doing the best I could for my team. I feel I did that.” Australia’s out…
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Jet-ski operators, beach vendors to protect Phuket tourists
PHUKET: Patong Police plan to recruit beachfront workers as their eyes and ears in protecting Phuket tourists this high season, in addition to installing more closed-circuit televisions (CCTV) cameras. “Usually, there are a lot of robberies during the high season. We don’t really have enough officers to take care of all the tourists during peak season,” explained Patong Police Superintendent…
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Phuket protest wins residents landslide probe
PHUKET: A protest staged by about 100 residents on Friday has resulted in the Phuket Provincial Office spearheading an investigation into construction on a steep hill in Patong. The protest, held opposite the entrance to Phra Baramee Road Soi 4, came after the third mudslide hit the Kok Makham community since construction began at the site. “Three times mud, sand…
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Phuket students to learn water survival skills
PHUKET: In a bid to save Phuket children from drowning, a new project by the Phuket Lifeguard Club, Laguna Phuket and Cherng Talay Municipality aims to teach students in Phuket’s Thalang District how to identify dangerous swimming conditions. The students will even learn how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Held over two school semesters, the project will be open to…
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Phuket students wild carded for ITF tennis tournament
PHUKET: Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club hosted its inaugural tennis tournament, the Thanyapura Tennis Challenge, last weekend.As a result of reaching the Men’s Singles final, two 17-year-old students from Satree Phuket School have earned their places in the Chang ITF Thailand Pro Circuit 2011, which will run from October 29 to November 12, again hosted by TSLC.Thachakorn ‘Kevin’ Tonnon and…
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Phuket cop cleared in South African “cash for freedom’ claim
PHUKET: A Phuket policeman has been cleared of allegations made by a South African man that he had to “buy his freedom” following his arrest for passing counterfeit US dollars. It took Chalong Police duty officer Boonlert Onklang almost a month to prove his innocence after South African tourist Gabriel Sequeira was quoted by the South African media saying he…
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Thailand to lead “education export’ market?
PHUKET: Thailand aims to position itself as a hub for international education and take full advantage of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) set to take effect in 2015, the state-run National News Bureau of Thailand reported on its website last week. Such a bold declaration, echoing similar grand policy initiatives under the government of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, has triggered…
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Italian Thai boxer tourist gets Phuket smack-down
PHUKET: An Italian student of muay Thai learned the hard way last night that it’s unwise to mix beer and martial arts, ending up with 15 stitches to the eyebrow and a blow to his pride. According to a report in Siangtai Daily this morning, a group of three “bald and heavily tattooed Italians” were drinking in a bar on…
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Phuket may get a trade office
PHUKET: Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) officials have proposed building an office in Phuket as part of a government strategy to improve services for businesses ahead of the 2015 ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). The officials were in Phuket recently to discuss the issue with Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha, who expressed interest in the proposal. Phuket is one of seven provinces…
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Phuket man murdered within inches of his wife
PHUKET: A man driving his wife home from her job at Phuket Airport was gunned down in Sakoo subdistrict last night. Thachatchai Police were notified of the murder on the Sakoo-Nai Yang Road just after midnight. They identified the deceased as 29-year-old Niphon Thaiprasert, a resident of Sakoo Village 3.Mr Niphon died from a single gun shot that entered his…
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FC Phuket 1 – 0 Samutprakan Customs
PHUKET: A first-half goal by Sarach Yooyen was all it took for FC Phuket to secure all three points in a lackluster 1-0 home win against Samutprakan Customs United this evening. The goal by the returning national player came from a deflection of a free kick taken from just outside the top of the penalty area at about 15 minutes…
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Phuket may benefit from regional drive to target European tourists
PHUKET: The Andaman provinces announced last week a plan to launch a joint marketing campaign aimed at luring more Europeans – especially Scandinavians – and persuading them to stay longer. The Andaman Explorer campaign is the brainchild of the tourism associations in the five provinces along the coast of the Andaman Sea: Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Trang and Ranong. Ittirit…
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Design re-thinks needed for Phuket and Bangkok Hotels
PHUKET: A hotel design consultant currently working on the interior design for the Regent Phuket, which opens here early next year, says that many hotels, particularly in Phuket and Bangkok, need to rethink their aesthetics in order to remain competitive. Competition is now fierce as many thousands of new rooms are coming on the market, not only in Phuket and…
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