Year: 2011

  • Phuket News

    Future of FC Phuket foreign players in question

    PHUKET: FC Phuket fans will be granted at least one more performance by local football stars Kone Adama and Johnathan Matijas on Christmas Day, in the team’s last match of 2011 against Air Force United. The news follows rumors circulating on Phuket FC’s fan club website that none of the current five foreign players will continue with FC Phuket next…

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  • Phuket News

    Phuket Sports: Westwood wins at Amata Spring

    PHUKET: Lee Westwood claimed the inaugural Thailand Golf Championship and a US$158,000 prize purse last Sunday at the Amata Spring Country Club in Chonburi. The 38-year-old from England fired a three-under-par 69 in the final round to defeat South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel by seven shots following a four-shot overnight lead. Westwood’s 22-under-par 266 aggregate total, fourth victory of 2011 and…

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  • Phuket News

    Fair Play to Brazilian Soccer Schools

    PHUKET: Organized by Brazilian Soccer Schools (BSS) Phuket, The Fair Play League for boys and girls will resume on January 14, 2012 at the British International School (BIS). Tawan Sea Adventures and The Yorkshire Inn have stepped in as title sponsors which has enabled the registration fee to be set at 500 baht per player for the full eight week…

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  • Phuket News

    Laguna take top spot after demolition of the Phuket Leopards

    PHUKET: Last year’s Island Furniture T20 champions Laguna Phuket faced the dynamic youth team of the Leopards in the season’s sixth match and the final league encounter of 2011 at the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG) on Sunday. A convincing victory was needed by Laguna if they were to move to top of the table going into the new year. The…

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  • Thailand News

    Weird World News: Christmas tree thief leaves trail of pine needles, UK bans fun, new research links researchers to the Grinch and a peek into our ‘Santa Files’

    PHUKET: With the merriment of Christmas just a few days away, what better way to get in the festive spirit than to pay homage to a few Grinch-like tales of bitterness and to take a peek to see what Santa has been up to this year. Christmas decorations and snowball fights banned in UK THE United Kingdom wins first place…

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  • World News

    A christmas story – girl reunited with family from Tsunami 2004

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Indonesian girl swept away by 2004 tsunami found alive Phuket Gazette An Indonesian girl who was thought to have died when a huge tsunami devastated the island of Sumatra in December 2004, has been found alive and reunited with her parents, local media reported on Thursday.…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket official stabbed by accident | Thaiger

    Phuket official stabbed by accident

    PHUKET: A municipal official who tried to break up a lovers’ quarrel on Patong Beach yesterday evening is being treated in a Phuket hospital for a stab wound after his stomach was accidentally sliced open by an enraged young woman. Patong Municipality officer Prakij “Oh” Phenjun was on Patong Beach at about 7:30pm yesterday when he heard a young man…

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  • Phuket News

    Pitch invasion fail!

    PHUKET: Memories of Eric Cantona’s attack on Crystal Palace supporter Matthew Simmons – when he jumped into the crowd kung-fu style – came flooding back at a Dutch KNVB Cup match on Wednesday evening.With seven minutes remaining in the first half during Ajax and AZ Alkmaar’s last 16 cup tie, a home fan evaded security, ran on to the pitch…

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  • Phuket News

    Bagged testicle puts Scott Dann out of action

    PHUKET: “Our physio [Dave Fevre] cannot believe it. He has two players [Dann and Givet] out with problems he has never come across before in all his years of experience.”Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean explains that striker Scott Dann has sustained a ruptured testicle while putting the ball in the back of the net during the Rovers’ painful 2-1 defeat…

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  • Phuket NewsMMA fighter Junie Browning surrenders to Phuket Police | Thaiger

    MMA fighter Junie Browning surrenders to Phuket Police

    PHUKET: Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Junie Browning turned himself over the Chalong Police yesterday afternoon. Mr Browning walked into Chalong Police Station at about 2pm with his lawyer and filed a counter-complaint against Australian Simon Menzies. Mr Menzies had already filed a complaint against Mr Browning after the pair became involved in a brawl in a bar in Karon.…

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  • Phuket News

    Phuket job fair offers little respite for hotel labor shortage

    PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Employment Office (PPEO) job fair in Phuket Town today attracted few job-seekers, despite repeated calls from Phuket’s tourism industry seeking to hire more qualified staff. Representatives from more than 59 businesses turned up at the Phuket Software Industry Promotion Agency building at Saphan Hin to offer in total more than 1,500 jobs. Most of the positions…

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  • Phuket News

    Young dad dies in high-speed Phuket crash

    PHUKET: A young father died instantly in a high-speed single car crash yesterday after his car spun out of control while he was rushing to pick up his child from school in Phuket Town. Tung Tong Police Duty Officer Watthanathon Bamrungthin told the Phuket Gazette that 28-year-old Boonrit Aphithammawong was on his way from Patong, where he worked as a…

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  • World News

    Phuket Media Watch – Indonesian protests; flash flooding

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Dozens of Indonesians sew mouths shut in deforestation protest Phuket GazetteA group of Indonesian protesters have sewed their mouths shut in a protest against deforestation which took place in front of the parliament building in the capital this week, the Jakarta Globe reported today. Ten more…

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  • Phuket News

    Phuket blitz on booze in New Year gift baskets

    PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) yesterday launched a series of raids on major retailers selling New Year gift baskets to ensure that they do not contain alcoholic beverages. “I have informed all major retailers that New Year gift baskets may not contain alcohol,” said PPHO chief Dr Sak Tanchaikul. “The PPHO have right to report to the…

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  • Phuket News

    Tsunami no longer a factor in Khao Lak tourism: Survey

    SPECIAL REPORTby Bill Barnett PHUKET: Phuket and other provinces along the Andaman Coast are currently making preparations to mark the seventh anniversary since the tsunami struck on December 26, 2004. However, a market survey just released by brand agency Quo Global has concluded that memories of the 2004 tsunami no longer negatively affect decisions to travel to the Thai resort…

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  • Property

    Phuket Property Briefs – Village wins again; luxury movie; private jet facility

    PHUKET: The Village Coconut Island, has been awarded “Best Shared Ownership Development” in the inaugural South East Asia Property Awards which assists in promoting high levels of real estate opportunities available in South East Asia. The Village Coconut Island’s latest accolade sits aside the 2010 Thailand Property Awards “Best Villa Development” and recognition as one of Asia’s Top 20 Resorts…

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  • Property

    Phuket Property Watch – Beach Club bingo

    PHUKET: For globetrotting party-goers the line up of posh beach clubs has led them for years from Ibiza, to Miami’s Nikki Beach and down to the Caribbean for sundowners on St. Barts. Asia’s beach club evolution kicked off with the iconic Ku De Ta, and has now shifted into top gear with Cocoon, Potato Head and the Rock Bar at…

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  • Property

    Phuket Property – check your project management

    PHUKET: When buying property in a managed estate in Phuket, careful scrutiny of the project management might be one of the most neglected points. This may have negative consequences particularly in cases where the applicable laws or regulations do not provide minimum standards and a legal framework regarding project management. Typically, poor management causes disputes between residents and their project…

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  • Thai Life

    Water, water, everywhere!

    PHUKET: Property and families have been destroyed by the recent floods in Thailand. What is Mother Nature trying to tell us? When I flew across the Pacific some weeks ago, the final descent took us over the central plains of Thailand. Looking down, there was water as far as the eye could see. It was a scene awash in melancholy:…

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  • Business NewsBusiness briefs – new airbus for Phuket; 3G; rubber trading | Thaiger

    Business briefs – new airbus for Phuket; 3G; rubber trading

    New Bangkok Airways Airbus to fly Phuket, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, Bangledesh and IndiaPhuket GazetteBangkok Airways recently acquired a new Airbus 319, the airline’s 18th aircraft. With a total of 130 economy seats, the new craft will fly domestic and international routes serving at least five destinations including Phuket, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, Bengarulu (Bangalore, India) and Dhaka (Bangladesh). The…

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  • Property

    City park high-rise promising

    PHUKET: Annual returns of up to 10 per cent are being promised to those who invest in the condotel portion of The Light Suan Luang condominium project in Phuket Town. Backed by Phuket Living Co Ltd, a former partner in the Royal Place Condominium project on the bypass road, The Light Suan Luang is a 447 million baht, 15-storey complex…

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  • Business News

    Pornthip Phuket packaging takes to world stage

    PHUKET: Pornthip (Phuket) Co Ltd, the island’s most recognized food-gift brand, submitted two of its award-winning products to contest in the AsiaStar Awards 2011, also known as the “Packaging Oscars of Asia”. Having recently achieved national recognition at the ThaiStar Packaging Awards 2011, Pornthip’s Andaman and Sino-Portuguese gift sets will now join the regional ranks along with 54 other submissions…

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  • Business News

    Phuket’s labor shortage critical

    PHUKET: Industry analysts describe the labor shortage in the Phuket tourism industry as “critical”, with as many as 4,000 vacant hotel positions as the island enters its annual high season for tourism. Bhuritt Maswongsa, a vice president of the Phuket Tourist Association, said, “The lack of hotel employees has now reached a crisis point with 3,000 to 4,000 unfilled positions.…

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  • Phuket News

    FC Phuket unable to fend off Elephant Cavalry charge

    PHUKET: FC PHUKET were defeated 1-0 by Suphanburi FC last night in front of a somewhat rowdy home crowd at Surakul Stadium in Phuket Town. The game’s only goal came in the 30th minute by the visitor’s Cameroonian import, Ronald Kufoin Djam, who initially flicked the ball to the back post from a corner kick by Santi Chaiyaphauk. The ball…

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  • Thailand News

    Border agreement reached by Thailand and Cambodia; Burma and Thailand economic co-operation

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Agreement reached to withdraw troops from border The Nation / Phuket Gazette Thailand and Cambodia agreed yesterday to comply with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) order to withdraw troops from the disputed border area near the Preah Vihear Temple following a meeting of the General…

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  • World News

    Phuket Media Watch – Earth-size planets found outside the Milky Way

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Scientists discover first Earth-size planets outside the Milky Way Phuket Gazette U.S. scientists have spotted the first Earth-size planets which are orbiting a sun-like star outside our solar system, NASA announced on Tuesday. The planets are unlikely to support life. NASA said its Kepler mission, which…

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  • Phuket News

    Second Phuket incinerator ‘onstream by March’

    PHUKET: The second trash incinerator currently under construction at the Saphan Hin facility is expected to be operational by March. Chief Prachum Suriya, Phuket City Municipality, Environmental Division, detailed the progress made so far in the construction of the incinerator, which started in 2009 and is now about 80 per cent complete. The new incinerator is expected to have the…

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  • Phuket News

    FC Phuket call for massive support tonight against Suphanburi FC

    PHUKET: FC Phuket players and coaching staff are appealing for a flood of fan support for tonight’s league match against Suphanburi FC, also known as the “Elephant-back Warriors”. Assistant Coach Apichart “Mo” Mosika asked the Phuket Gazette to encourage FC Phuket fans to be at Surakul Stadium tonight for the team’s 31st game of the 2011 Division One schedule. “It…

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  • World News

    Phuket Media Watch – Russian oil rig sank; Helicopter crashes in Siberia

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community More bodies found after oil rig sinks in southeastern Russia Phuket Gazette Nearly a dozen more bodies were found on Monday after an oil rig sank in southeastern Russia on Sunday, local media reported on Tuesday. Dozens more remain missing and are feared to have been…

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  • Phuket News

    Machine gun seized in Phuket meth raid

    PHUKET: Police conducting drug raids on three houses in Mai Khao, at the northern tip of Phuket, today seized a slew of guns, including a .45 Thompson submachine gun. Armed with search warrants, officers from Tah Chat Chai Police Station first searched the home of 38-year-old Chaicharn Kao-ian, where they found 60 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills hidden in his washing…

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  • Phuket News

    Phuket DMAT teams take on Japan, Korea in disaster rescue face-off

    PHUKET: Disaster medical assistance teams (DMAT) from across Thailand yesterday began a four-day intensive training course at Phuket’s Boat Lagoon complex in preparation for the first-ever International Medical Rally to be held at Sirinath National Park, Nai Yang, on December 23. Taking part in the training are DMAT teams from Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Nakorn Sri Thammarat, Krabi,…

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  • Phuket News

    Phuket Gov to give ‘key to City’ away for Red Cross Fair

    PHUKET: This year’s Red Cross Fair will be held from December 29 to January 8, 2012 at Saphan Hin central stage in Phuket Town. The opening ceremony, starting at 6pm on December 29, will feature a fireworks show, and performances by nationally-renowned acts will be staged every night. As in years past, the most anticipated event will be the charity…

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  • Thai Life

    Phuket History – Nyonya-Baba link to Phuket and Penang

    PHUKET: The Chinese community in Malaya grew rapidly during the 19th century. During this period, many Chinese immigrants were arriving in Malaya in hopes of finding jobs in the booming tin-mining industry. Most of the Chinese immigrants were concentrated around large tin centers along the Malay Peninsula, such as Malacca, Penang and Phuket. Chinese immigrants were usually young unmarried men.…

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  • Thai Life

    Phuket Lifestyle – an improvement on perfection?

    PHUKET: Depending on your concept and interpretation of life, you could take the “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” approach or simply strive to improve what you’re actually already very good at. Silvano Amolini, Executive Chef at Dusit Thani Laguna is most definitely a man of the latter category. And typically of Signor Silvano, he has recently introduced an…

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  • Business News

    Phuket Business: Bad investments – a fiscal toy story

    PHUKET: I often write about things which I think may or may not be worth considering as an investment. Today I would like to try and get my readers to understand some things which generally are considered as bad investments. Professionals in my industry usually will vary greatly on their opinions of what is a good investment at any one…

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  • Phuket News

    Live Wire – Fourth 3G supplier to aid Phuket

    PHUKET: May I present some good news, some not-so-good news, and some news that keeps crawling out of the mailbag, like a gift from Santa that can’t be returned. We’ve waited years for 3G wireless internet service in Thailand. Now, suddenly, over the course of the past six months, we’ve got 3G coming out of our ears, in a wide…

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  • Thai Life

    Phuket’s electronic music and dance festival to hit Karon

    PHUKET: Following a trend in electronic music festivals around the world, Phuket is set to throb and pulsate its way into the New Year with its very own festival. Last year Pattaya was host to a Creative Electronic Music and Dance Festival organized by the Department of Intellectual Properties and the Ministry Of Commerce. This year’s Phuket Electronic Music and…

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