Month: September 2012
- Phuket News
Phuket’s “Dive against Debris’ reef cleanup sets new world record
PHUKET: The 502 participants who took part in today’s Go Eco Phuket, PADI and Project AWARE-sponsored “Dive Against Debris” can now proudly lay claim to staging the biggest reef cleanup of any kind in the world. The record turnout surpassed pre-event expectations of 14 PADI dive boats and more than 450 participants to sweep the reefs off Koh Racha Noi,…
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New Phuket Police chief honors the Heroines
PHUKET: Phuket’s incoming Phuket Provincial Police Commander, Maj Gen Chote Chawanwiwat, stopped off at the Heroines Monument last night to pay homage to the island’s guardian spirits.Gen Chote arrives in Phuket after serving as the Commander of the Narathiwat Provincial Police in Thailand’s troubled Deep South.He will be installed as Phuket’s top-ranking police officer tomorrow, replacing Maj Gen Chonasit Wattanavrangkul,…
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Gov Tri names infrastructure, environment Phuket’s greatest challenges
PHUKET: Speaking at a farewell function at Provincial Hall yesterday, outgoing Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha told the Phuket Gazette that the greatest challenges facing Phuket were preserving the island’s natural environment and meeting growing infrastructure needs.“Phuket is considered a world-famous tourist destination. The important thing that will continue to attract tourists is the island’s beautiful scenery and environment.“The development of…
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Car cut in half on impact with Phuket power pole
PHUKET: Police are investigating what prompted a 57-year-old driver to accelerate to such a speed in the early hours of this morning that when his car flew off the road it was cut in half by a roadside power pole.Thalang Police duty officer Patiwat Yodkwan was notified of the high-speed accident at at 2:45am.Due to severity of the initial reports,…
Read More » - World News
Sacked worker kills self and 5 colleagues in revenge attack
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international communityGunman kills 5 at Minnesota workplace before shooting selfPhuket Gazette / News WiresPHUKET: A gunman opened fire in the state of Minnesota killing four people before fatally shooting himself, local authorities said on Friday.The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon at around 4:30 pm local time at Accent Signage…
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Korean tourist to Phuket found dead snorkeling off Phi Phi Island
PHUKET: A 29-year-old Korean tourist on holiday in Phuket has died while snorkeling off Phi Phi Island during a day trip to the popular beach resort. The man, named by Tourist Police as Jury Kuk Kim, was on a Korean package tour and staying at a hotel in Patong. The tour group, comprising about 40 tourists from South Korea, arrived…
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Phuket making waves as jet-skis get legal
PHUKET: The issue of jet-ski insurance, a topic that never seems to be off the back-burner, resurfaced earlier this month at the Honorary Consuls’ regular four-monthly meeting. British Honorary Consul Martin Carpenter asked the Marine Department chief if he could provide clear information warning tourists of the potential quagmire they face should they get into problems while renting a jet-ski.…
Read More » - Opinion
Phuket Opinion: Setting standards for everything
PHUKET: The mantra of government officials regurgitating their need to preserve “Phuket’s tourism image” and to “restore tourist confidence” in what is promoted as a world-class international tourism destination, took an interesting twist last week. (See page 7 story, current issue of the Phuket Gazette. Digital subscribers click here to download the full newspaper.) One would think that local officials…
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Parliament joins Phuket national park fray
PHUKET: Narit Khamnurak, Chairman of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Land, Natural Resources and Environment (CNRE), this week led a parliamentary inquiry to follow up the investigation into resorts accused of encroaching on national park land on Phuket’s west coast. At Sirinath Marine National Park headquarters, Mr Narit together with nine officers on Friday reviewed the investigation reports…
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Phuket Town basks in the glow of the Moon Festival
PHUKET: Phuket City Municipality together with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket Office, Old Phuket Cultural Foundation, Phuket Peranakan Association and the Old Phuket Town Community, yesterday held the opening ceremony of Phuket Moon Festival 2012. The Moon Festival, also known in China as the Mid-Autumn Festival, started yesterday at Queen Sirikit Park in Phuket Town will run until…
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Work begins on repairing Patong Hill road landslide site
PHUKET: Phuket Highways Office Director Samak Luadwonghat kept his promise made yesterday that as soon as the rains stopped today, his workers were out in force making temporary repairs to the Patong Hill road. The section of road, just west of the Chinese shrine at the top of the hill, first collapsed during heavy rains last October, then again in…
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Lucky escape for Phuket driver as police hunt 18-wheeler
PHUKET: A 19-year-old man escaped serious injury when the Isuzu pickup he was driving slammed into an 18-wheeled truck and trailer on Thepkrasattri Road in the north of Phuket this afternoon. Thalang Police duty officer Patiwat Yodkwan arrived at the scene, near the Baan Muang Mai market in Thalang, at about 1:30pm to find Mr Ken Patan still pinned inside…
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Three more injured turtles wash up on Phuket’s beaches
PHUKET: Another three young Olive Ridley sea turtles were discovered washed up on Phuket beaches yesterday. All were missing limbs, presumed to have been severed by discarded fishing nets. Dr Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, who heads the Endangered Species Unit at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC), told the Phuket Gazette that the turtles were discovered by local residents and lifeguards at…
Read More » - Thailand News
Weather News: Bangkok gets biggest soaking in 100 years
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Rainfall highest in 100 years, BMA claims Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) yesterday insisted that rainfall in the capital this month has been the highest in 100 years. “I have clear information,” said Sanya Sheenimit in his capacity as chief…
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Thailand News: Big three apply for 3G; Tantawan rejected
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community As expected, only big three apply for 3G spectrum auction Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: It’s clear now that the big three in the cellular service industry will be the only bidders for the long-awaited 2.1-gigahertz spectrum on October 16. The spectrum will be used for third-generation…
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AirAsia move to axe Phuket-Bali, Ubon flights sparks ire from ‘stranded’ travellers
PHUKET: Low cost carrier AirAsia’s decision to cease operations from Phuket to Bali and to Ubon Ratchthani has sparked a storm of angry comments directed at AirAsia’s call center by passengers feeling that they have been left stranded. Staff at the AirAsia office in Phuket told the Phuket Gazette that they had fielded many queries, mainly asking what travellers can…
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Phuket Sports: Pride, punishment and pain
PHUKET: Singapore was a tragedy for Lewis Hamilton and McLaren. Hamilton would have been the clear winner, until his gearbox disintegrated and catapulted Vettel into first place, Button to second, and most importantly, Alonso into third place. That changed what might have been. A resurgent Vettel is now hunting down Alonso, and Hamilton has dropped to the back of the…
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Carnage to Phuket’s marine life continues
PHUKET: In just one day, half a dozen Olive Ridley sea turtles were rescued in Phuket, all suffering lacerations caused by fishing nets, and a young dolphin was stranded on Mai Khao Beach.Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, head of the Endangered Species Unit (ESU) at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC), revealed yesterday that ESU officers received a report from lifeguards at Karon…
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Work on Phuket’s B600mn underpass to begin after October 9
PHUKET: Construction of the underpass at the Darasamuth Intersection, in front of the Central Festival Phuket shopping mall, will not commence until at least October 9, the director of the Highways Department’s Phuket office confirmed today. The government tender for Italian-Thai Co Ltd, Thailand’s largest construction contractor, to formally take on the project was supposed to be signed today, Phuket…
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Phuket Vegetarian Festival to generate B600mn
PHUKET: Director Chanchai Doungjit of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office expects this year’s Vegetarian Festival to generate about 600 million baht in revenue for the local economy. “Many Thais, including those of Chinese origin, will visit the festival and many are likely to travel as family groups as the festival falls within the school holidays,” Director Chanchai…
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Go Eco Phuket record reef cleanup will go on, say organizers
PHUKET: Organizers of the Go Eco Phuket dive reef cleanup project this Sunday, which is on target to set a new world record for the number of people taking part in a single underwater cleanup operation, say the event will go ahead. “There is no chance we are canceling,” Tony Andrews, Thailand’s West Coast PADI Regional Manager and Go Eco…
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June warms up Phuket FC for September showdown with Sri Racha
PHUKET: The Islander’s newly appointed head coach, Anuruck “June” Srikerd got his first chance to see his new side in action during a friendly match against a mixed Southern B-side last night. Played on Thanyapura Sports & Leisure Club’s artificial-grass pitch, the friendly proved to be a much needed confidence boost for Phuket, who scored 5 unanswered goals against their…
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Rain causes Patong Hill road landslide – again
PHUKET: The section of road on Patong Hill that was washed away by heavy rain last year has suffered another landslide, in the same place, after days of heavy rain soaking Phuket this week. The section of road, just west of the Chinese shrine at the top of the hill, first collapsed during heavy rains last October, then again in…
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It would be a challenging task for Thailand…
“It would be a challenging task for Thailand. It may not be easy for Thailand to host a race. There may be several problems to solve before Thailand hosts a race such as noise pollution,” PHUKET: Suwat Sidthilaw, permanent secretary to the Tourism and Sports Ministry talks about the possibility of Bangkok hosting a night time Formula One race in…
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Phuket Town shop burglar delivered ‘gift-wrapped’ to police
PHUKET: Phuket City Police arrived at a shophouse in response to a burglar alarm raised early yesterday morning, only to find the thief already bound up.“We went to the scene with Kusoldham rescue workers. The entrance to the clothing shop on Soi Surin [near The Metropole Hotel] was locked. We had to break the lock to enter the building.“Inside, there…
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Thai Navy in Phuket does it “Gangnam Style’
PHUKET: Thai Sailors at the Navy Third Area Command, based at Cape Panwa on Phuket’s east coast, have broken their stoic mold and posted a video on YouTube showing that they can have fun too, by dancing in the now-globally infectious Korean “Gangnam Style”. Click here to see the video. “The video was created for the farewell party last night…
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Waves continue to sweep injured turtles onto Phuket
PHUKET: Officers at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) recovered a juvenile Olive Ridley sea turtle suffering from lacerations, and its front left flipper amputated entirely, from Mai Khao Beach yesterday. “We received a report from The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation that the turtle had washed ashore in front of Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa – Marriott at Mai…
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Missing Phuket student, 17, found drowned
PHUKET: Rescue workers have recovered the body of the missing 17-year-old student who was swept away by strong waves when he entered the surf while with friends at Nai Yang Beach on Tuesday.Nithipol Lorlaem’s body was found this morning, about 500 meters from the police box near the beach, where he was last seen in the strong surf.“Six lifeguards, Mr…
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Travel Malaysia Consumer Fair starts tomorrow
PHUKET: Starting tomorrow the Tourism Malaysia Phuket Office for Southern Thailand, will once again be staging the Travel Malaysia Consumer Fair at Central Festival Phuket. This will be the second series of road shows and consumer fairs held in selected areas in Southern Thailand, includ ing Trang, Koh Samui and now Phuket. Selected outbound tour operators in Phuket will be…
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Phuket Sports: Fed Ex Cup; Golf tip of the week
PHUKET: This week on the PGA tour saw the Tour Championship and the finals of the Fed Ex Cup played at the East Lake golf course in Atlanta, Georgia. The course was in immaculate condition and the greens were similar to those at the Lakes golf course at Blue Canyon in Phuket, with subtle breaks, which make it difficult to…
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Roads reopen as floods recede, but residents still on high alert
PHUKET: Police today reopened roads in Phuket’s busiest tourist town of Patong after heavy rain there yesterday delivered floodwaters reaching depths of up to a meter deep, cutting off roads and access throughout the resort town. The worst affected area was Phang Muang Sai Kor Road in front of the Patong Hospital. Thaweewong Road, including near Loma Park on the…
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Health officials call for a ‘safer’ Phuket Vegetarian Festival
PHUKET: With 70 people injured and one person dying from complications brought on by smoke inhalation during the Vegetarian Festival last year, the Phuket Health Office is calling for more stringent measures to protect celebrants from harm this year. Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) chief Dr Sak Tanchaikul called the heads of Chinese shrines taking part in the this year’s…
Read More » - Thailand News
Thailand News: Failure to join CLMV could cost millions
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Reluctance to join single-visa scheme could prove to be costly Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Thailand has to revise its strategy concerning a regional single visa scheme, or it could lose millions of tourists to neighboring countries, which are kicking off the “CLMV Single Visa”…
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Phuket Vice Governor to take the big chair on October 1
PHUKET: Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa will take on the responsibility of Acting Governor from October 1 following the Thai Cabinet failing to name a successor to Tri Augkardacha, who will retire this Sunday, September 30.The news follows a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday not including the annual reshuffle of provincial governors on its agenda as Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit…
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Patong police defer action in Tiger Disco investigation
PHUKET: Police yesterday declined to commit to pressing any charges against the operators of the Tiger Discotheque over the fire that destroyed the venue and killed four people, including two tourists in Phuket’s main tourism town, Patong. Provincial Police Commander Chonasit Wattanavrangkul chaired a meeting with Patong Police to review the forensics report into the cause of the fire and…
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Search launched for 17-year-old feared drowned in Phuket
PHUKET: The search continues for a 17-year-old student who disappeared in strong waves at Nai Yang Beach late yesterday afternoon.Royal Thai Navy officers from the Third Naval Area command in Phuket and Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers resumed their search for Nithipol Lorlaem at 8am today, after it was deemed unsafe to continue the search around midnight last night.Mr Nithipol’s parents,…
Read More » - Property
Phuket Property: Condominium law since 2008
PHUKET: In a move to address numerous complaints from condominium buyers, the Thai government enacted the Condominium Act No 4 (2008), which significantly expanded the scope of consumer protection by amending several provisions of the original Condominium Act made thirty years previously. The original Act has been amended three times in attempts to keep the law up to date with…
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