Year: 2011

  • Phuket NewsPhuket hosts Indonesian tourism push to revive Aceh

    Phuket hosts Indonesian tourism push to revive Aceh

    PHUKET: A delegation from the Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism will host a reception for about 200 Phuket residents at Ao Chalong Yacht Club (ACYC) tomorrow. The event is part of the ministry’s strategy to revive and promote tourism to Aceh Province, the hardest hit landfall of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The ministry has identified yachting as a…

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  • Phuket NewsToyota League Cup result: Phattalung 1 – 0 FC Phuket | Thaiger

    Toyota League Cup result: Phattalung 1 – 0 FC Phuket

    PHUKET: FC Phuket lost 1-0 at Phattalung FC in the first leg of their quarterfinal pairing with the Division Two side last night. The two teams appeared to be headed for a scoreless draw until Phattalung scored in the 80th minute on a long shot by Anukon Sangrum that was deflected into the net by FC Phuket keeper Jonathan Matijas.…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket airport limo in vehicular bovicide | Thaiger

    Phuket airport limo in vehicular bovicide

    PHUKET: A Phuket airport limousine plowed into and killed a roaming buffalo early Monday morning at the same location where a tourist passenger van killed two buffaloes late last month. No people were injured in this latest accident. “The car was heading toward Phuket Town at about 1:30am. The driver said the buffalo appeared from nowhere, crossing the road right…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket and Pattalung football battle in the south

    Phuket and Pattalung football battle in the south

    PHUKET: FC Phuket take on Pattalung FC this evening in a highly anticipated first-leg quarter final for the 2011 Toyota League Cup football tournament. Kick off is scheduled for 6pm. The purple and white shirted Pattalung “Swiftlets”, also known as the “Swallows”, will be the hosts of tonight’s game at Pattalung Provincial stadium in Pattalung town. The second leg will…

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  • Phuket NewsAldhouse extradition for Phuket murder ‘not decided’ | Thaiger

    Aldhouse extradition for Phuket murder ‘not decided’

    PHUKET: Despite local reports to the contrary, the British Home Office today confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that no decision has been made regarding the extradition of murder suspect Lee Aldhouse, wanted in Thailand for the stabbing death of American Dashawn Longfellow last August. Mr Longfellow died on August 14 last year after allegedly being stabbed multiple times by Aldhouse.…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket Live Wire: More players in the island’s new internet game

    Phuket Live Wire: More players in the island’s new internet game

    PHUKET: Two weeks ago Live Wire covered the current state of the Internet in Phuket. At the time, evaluating TOT Fiber 2U and AIS GHSPA services was not touched upon because there was not enough data on the Phuket Internet Speed Reporting site. The numbers are pouring in now thanks to those of you who take a minute to report…

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  • Phuket NewsTuk-tuks: no more beatings, blockades – warns Phuket police chief

    Tuk-tuks: no more beatings, blockades – warns Phuket police chief

    PHUKET: The commander of the Phuket Provincial Police yesterday ordered the tuk-tuk drivers responsible for beating two Dutch tourists in Patong earlier this month to turn themselves in or face stiffer punishment. Commander Pekad Tantipong and Kathu Police Superintendent Arayapan Pukbuakao chaired a meeting with representatives of tuk-tuk co-operatives at Patong Police station to discuss the beating of Unobovd Alcawbimel,…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket tourist dies after Kata Beach rescue | Thaiger

    Phuket tourist dies after Kata Beach rescue

    PHUKET: A Swiss man died after falling unconscious while swimming at Kata Beach yesterday. Kathu Police confirmed that a Swiss man was pronounced dead at around 5pm at Patong Hospital following an incident at Kata Beach. Witnesses reported to lifeguards at about 4:30pm that they saw the man “swimming” about 150 meters from shore, Uten Singsom, head of the Kata-Karon…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket ready to launch online check-in for yachts

    Phuket ready to launch online check-in for yachts

    PHUKET: The long-awaited “one-stop shop” online check-in system for yachts arriving in Phuket will launch on September 1. Vice Governor Weerawat Janpen announced the news today at Provincial Hall at a meeting to discuss the final details for the new service. The Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA) have been working on the project since last year. “We have finished developing…

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  • Phuket NewsPatong’s “middle road’ to get facelift before Christmas

    Patong’s “middle road’ to get facelift before Christmas

    PHUKET: Work on surfacing Phang Muang Sai Kor Road in Patong, which runs behind the Jungceylon shopping complex, will begin before the end of the year, the Phuket Gazette was told today. “The construction contract was signed in Bangkok and work on the road will start by the end of this year,” Teeraporn Jirarattanakorn, director of the Department of Rural…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket’s Swedish murder suspects may not do ‘hard’ time

    Phuket’s Swedish murder suspects may not do ‘hard’ time

    PHUKET: The Swedish duo charged with the August 1 murder of Maksim Schantz would likely serve out their sentences in Sweden, a consular official told the Phuket Gazette. Johan Sebastian Ljung, 25, and Tommy Viktor Söderlund, 26, confessed on August 2 to attacking and stabbing to death the Russian-born Swedish national Mr Schantz, police said. The pair allegedly were angered…

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  • Thailand NewsFamily keeping killer dog | Thaiger

    Family keeping killer dog

    CHON BURI: The family of Mana Thessarit, a 51-year-old man who died after being viciously attacked by his golden retriever “Peter”, says there’s no question of getting rid of the killer pooch. Mr Mana’s daughter Wassana said the family will continue to look after the dog at the family home, in Sattahip district in the Central Thailand province. Peter attacked…

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  • Thailand NewsAbhisit-loving grandmother kills herself | Thaiger

    Abhisit-loving grandmother kills herself

    RAYONG: Dedicated supporters of the Democrat Party across Thailand have taken Yingluck Shinawatra’s sweeping victory over Abhisit Vejjajiva in the July 3 general elections hard, but none more so than Lamian Yusuk, an 80-year-old grandmother from Huay Yang subdistrict in Rayong province. Ms Lamian killed herself by drinking weedkiller six days after her hero Mr Abhisit’s defeat. Nantha Lap-insi, 59,…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket airport lands record meth bust

    Phuket airport lands record meth bust

    PHUKET: A Thai woman was caught trying to smuggle a record 3.2 kilograms of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) into Thailand at Phuket International Airport last night. The haul, valued at 10.5 million baht, was touted to be the biggest meth bust in the airport’s history. The suspect, 39-year-old Ratchanee Chidnaporn, from Khon Kaen Province in Northeast Thailand (Isarn), arrived from…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket Media: Ethics more credible than pretensions of ‘War’ | Thaiger

    Phuket Media: Ethics more credible than pretensions of ‘War’

    PHUKET: A story on a local blog last weekend continued to celebrate a “War” which it had declared several months ago, not against, but rather on behalf of and between, two of Phuket’s newspapers. We understood the writer’s interests at the time and have marveled at his diligence in following the conflagration with regular weekly reports. But the blog’s ‘report’…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket Sports: FC Phuket draw 1-1 at JW Rangsit | Thaiger

    Phuket Sports: FC Phuket draw 1-1 at JW Rangsit

    PHUKET: FC Phuket again failed to achieve their first win in an away match this season, though came from behind to grab a point against JW Rangsit with a 1-1 draw yesterday . Phuket went into the match ninth on the table and had a solid 3-1 home win over 11th-place Rangsit under their belt. The Phuket squad came out…

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  • Phuket NewsThousands turn out for Phuket Seafood fiesta

    Thousands turn out for Phuket Seafood fiesta

    PHUKET: Thousands of people turned out yesterday for the Seafood Fair at Rawai Beach to celebrate HM Queen Sirikit’s 79th birthday, also marked as Mother’s Day in Thailand. The seafood fair also marked the beginning of “Lobster Week” as part of the month-long Phuket Seafood Fiesta being held by the Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Charawat Chanaprach,…

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  • Phuket NewsFC Phuket face JW Rangsit FC today

    FC Phuket face JW Rangsit FC today

    PHUKET: Having defeated JW Rangsit in the Thai Premier League (TPL) Division One earlier this season at Surakul Stadium, a second victory for FC Phuket over their Pathum Thani rivals is expected today. However, it is an away fixture, and Phuket’s miserable away record continues to weigh on the minds of players, management, the media and faithful supporters. A commanding…

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  • Cannabis NewsPhuket Gov first to be drug tested

    Phuket Gov first to be drug tested

    PHUKET: Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha today passed a drug test as part of the grand opening ceremony for the new drug testing center in Phuket. The governor officiated at the the event at the Regional Medical Sciences Center in Thalang this morning and offered a urine sample which was then screened for all five classes of illegal narcotics. After a…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket students to have tablet ‘e-textbooks’ next year

    Phuket students to have tablet ‘e-textbooks’ next year

    BANGKOK: The government yesterday announced a practical side to Pheu Thai Party’s election campaign promise to give free tablet computers to students throughout Thailand: They will come equipped with e-textbooks. Education Minister Woravat Auapinyakul explained that each tablet will cost no more than 3,000 baht and have a life span of up to four years. Presently, the government allocates between…

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  • Phuket NewsWell known Phuket resident Ken Brookes passes away in UK

    Well known Phuket resident Ken Brookes passes away in UK

    PHUKET: Canadian Barrister and long-term Phuket resident Ken Brookes died in hospital in London last night. He was 67. His wife Lori Ashton was with him on a holiday when Ken fell ill. Both Ken and Lori are best known for the successful ‘Art and Culture’ publishing business and lived in Rawai for a number of years. Born Kenneth JA…

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  • Phuket NewsBarman turns pro

    Barman turns pro

    PHUKET: “Six months ago I was a full-time gardener and playing six leagues down from the Premier League back home.” Jason Mooney from Northern Ireland has been signed to play for Wycombe Wanderers in England’s Football League One. The 22-year-old, 6 foot 9 inch goalkeeper was cutting hedges until he landed a barman’s job at Wycombes ground, Adams Park. Now…

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  • Phuket NewsKoreans step up campaign for Phuket light-rail project

    Koreans step up campaign for Phuket light-rail project

    PHUKET: Korean mega-project developer Dohwa Engineering Co Ltd yesterday unveiled a series of proposed light-rail service routes across Phuket, including Patong. Sung-Min Lee, president of Dohwa’s Railway Metro Division, explained to Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha at Provincial Hall that the proposed routes were part of the company’s draft master plan. Although other mass-transit options that were presented included modern trams,…

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  • Phuket NewsLove for the game of tennis

    Love for the game of tennis

    PHUKET: Travis Bertram, 30, from Seattle, Washington, USA, is the new tennis director for Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club (TSLC). Having come through the ranks at leading tennis management company Peter Burwash International, Travis will develop TSLC’s new tennis academy. Speaking to the Phuket Gazette, Travis talks about his profession and hopes for tennis in Phuket. What drew you to…

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  • Hua Hin NewsPhuket Youth Sailing Squadron heads for Hua Hin

    Phuket Youth Sailing Squadron heads for Hua Hin

    PHUKET: The Phuket Youth Sailing Squadron (PYSS) is preparing to enter the Hua Hin Regatta 2011, and are inviting youths aged seven and up, specifically underprivileged children, to sign up for this new club that promotes youth sailing in Phuket. Five new youngsters have recently joined the sailing program, so there are now more than 20 members. Seventeen of these…

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  • Phuket NewsBend it like Therdsak

    Bend it like Therdsak

    PHUKET: Former Captain of the Thailand national football team and current vice-captain of Thai Premier League side, Chonburi FC, Therdsak Chaiman was in Phuket recently for a youth coaching session at Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club (TSLC). The free coaching clinic was organized with the help of Thanachart Bank and ran between 8am and 11am on July 30. Over 30…

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  • Phuket NewsWorld record on the cards for Raceweek’s Larsen

    World record on the cards for Raceweek’s Larsen

    PHUKET: Australian Paul Larsen and his DaVinci crew raced in to second place after an exciting four days of Multihull class sailing at this year’s Six Senses Phuket International Raceweek. Racing conditions in the waters off the Evason and Bon Island resort for the event were exciting, but certainly less threatening than what Paul has been used to over the…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket Poll: When will Thaksin return?

    Phuket Poll: When will Thaksin return?

    PHUKET: Now that Yingluck Shinawatra has been installed as Thailand’s first female prime minister, many political analysts are posing the question: When will her brother, fugitive former PM Thaksin, return to Thailand? In its latest online poll, the Phuket Gazette invites readers to suggest when they think this will happen – if ever. To have your say, click here or…

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  • Phuket NewsTourist arrivals jump exposes Phuket infrastructure lag

    Tourist arrivals jump exposes Phuket infrastructure lag

    ANALYSIS PHUKET: Officials forecasting a record high four million passenger arrivals at Phuket International Airport for 2011 has highlighted lagging infrastructure, mounting travel delays and long immigration queues that have the potential to derail growth in Phuket’s hospitality industry. Phuket Airport has a stated total capacity of 6.5 million passengers a year, including all arrivals and departures from international and…

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  • Phuket NewsCorruption tops list of Phuket priorities

    Corruption tops list of Phuket priorities

    PHUKET: More than one third of Phuket Gazette readers responding to an online poll voted corruption as Phuket’s top priority for authorities to address. In the poll, readers were asked, ‘Which of the following issues affecting Phuket do you feel needs the most urgent attention by the new Government?’ The choices in responding were:• Traffic congestion• Crime• Drug abuse• Corruption•…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket readies for HM Queen Sirikit’s birthday

    Phuket readies for HM Queen Sirikit’s birthday

    PHUKET: Visitors and residents in Phuket will have ample opportunity to honor and celebrate HM Queen Sirikit’s 79th birthday – also celebrated in Thailand as Mother’s Day – on Friday. Police sources have confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that alcohol sales will not be banned on Friday, a national holiday. “We only ask for people to comply with [the ban…

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  • Phuket NewsOfficials under fire over Phuket flyover plans

    Officials under fire over Phuket flyover plans

    PHUKET: Department of Highways officials received a frosty reception today at a public hearing to unveil three base designs for an overpass at Bang Khu Intersection, one of the main traffic crunch points during peak hours on Phuket’s Thepkrasattri Road. The Bang Khu Intersection is where Thepkrasattri Rd meets the bypass road. Sombat Jaroenpat, director of the Survey and Design…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket Live Wire: AIS rollout of 3G a success

    Phuket Live Wire: AIS rollout of 3G a success

    PHUKET: The AIS rollout of its new wireless internet system has come and gone, and I’m duly impressed. We’re seeing good – sometimes great – international download speeds, reliable signals, extensive coverage and reasonably good support, all over Phuket. Amazing. Don’t take my word for it. If you’re thinking about signing-up for AIS 3G, drop by phuketinternetspeed.com and see what…

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  • Phuket NewsCaddy shock

    Caddy shock

    PHUKET: “It’s the most satisfying win I’ve ever had, there’s no two ways about it.” Steve Williams claims he’s experienced the height of satisfaction in his caddy career after helping Adam Scott to victory at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational golf tournament in Ohio on Sunday, just two weeks after being dumped by Tiger Woods. Williams, from New Zealand, won 13 majors…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket funeral to honor Father Richard

    Phuket funeral to honor Father Richard

    PHUKET: The funeral for Father Richard Woodarek, who served Phuket’s Catholic community for more than 40 years, will be held at Our Lady of Assumption Church in Phuket Town on Wednesday at 10am. Father Richard passed away on Friday. He was 82 years old and had spent more than half of his life in Thailand, most of that time in…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket fire drill no cause for alarm

    Phuket fire drill no cause for alarm

    PHUKET: Smoke billowing out of the fresh market on Ranong Road in Phuket Town this morning was no cause for alarm as Phuket City Municipality conducted its first fire drill there since the market opened in September last year. More than 150 market vendors and other people taking part in the drill poured onto the street at about 10:30am, simulating…

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  • Thai LifePhuket says farewell to priest of 40 years

    Phuket says farewell to priest of 40 years

    PHUKET: The Catholic Christian community in Phuket has lost a great pastor and friend. Father Richard Woodarek passed away on Friday. He was 82 years old and had spent more than half of his life in Thailand, most of it in Phuket. Father Richard was born on December 3, 1928 in Salamanca, New York. His parents, both deceased, were Walther…

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