Month: October 2012

  • Phuket NewsLive Wire: Is Phuket smart enough for the iPhone 5?

    Live Wire: Is Phuket smart enough for the iPhone 5?

    PHUKET: Last week I talked about the iPhone 5, how it compares to the Samsung Galaxy S III, and the problems that people from Toledo to Tashkent are going to have deciding which one to buy. Here in Phuket, we have one HUGE question that doesn’t concern much of the rest of the world – and it’ll be a key…

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  • Business NewsPhuket Business: Signs of the island’s time

    Phuket Business: Signs of the island’s time

    PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Government recently published its economic summary report for the first six months of the year (F6M12). The in-depth report highlights year-on-year (y-o-y) figures and trends in trade, consumerism, and in the island’s tourism, property, investment and agricultural sectors. Here, the Phuket Gazette outlines some of these.TourismThe total number of tourist arrivals in F6M12 remained steady with…

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  • Phuket NewsFossil shell cemetery discovered in Krabi

    Fossil shell cemetery discovered in Krabi

    PHUKET: A villager clearing land to plant oil palm trees in Krabi last month unearthed what he believes is fossil graveyard.Since the original discovery, Chob Pankaew has had regular visits from the residents of Nong Phak Bung village in Klong Thom district, all coming to see the fossils.“Two weeks ago, I was clearing the land ready to plant oil palm…

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  • Phuket NewsKorean tourist snorkeling death ruled as “drowning’

    Korean tourist snorkeling death ruled as “drowning’

    PHUKET: Hospital staff in Phuket have confirmed that “drowning” has been listed as the official cause of death of the 29-year-old Korean tourist found dead while snorkeling at Phi Phi Island on Saturday. An International Department officer at Vachira Phuket Hospital confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that the Jungkook Kim, initially named by Tourist Police as “Jury Kuk Kim“, was…

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  • Phuket NewsNew Phuket governor announced

    New Phuket governor announced

    PHUKET: The Thai Cabinet has officially named former Phayao Governor Maitree Intusut as the new Governor of Phuket.The Cabinet agreed to the proposed list of governor appointments and transfers for 19 provinces at a meeting today, two days after former Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha retired on Sunday.Sommai Prijasilpa, Phuket’ senior vice-governor, has been filling in as Acting Governor in the…

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  • Phuket NewsBreaking News: Tiger Disco charged over inferno deaths

    Breaking News: Tiger Disco charged over inferno deaths

    PHUKET: The operators of Tiger Discotheque have been charged with negligence causing death and physical and mental injury to others, as well as with trading after hours, Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Pochanaphan has confirmed to the Phuket Gazette. The blaze that broke out at the nightclub, just before 4am on August 17, while hundreds of patrons were still inside the…

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  • Phuket NewsNew Phuket police chief targets tourist safety, drugs

    New Phuket police chief targets tourist safety, drugs

    PHUKET: Phuket’s new Provincial Police Commander, Maj Gen Chote Chawanwiwat, has vowed to make drugs and tourist safety his top priorities. Gen Chote was installed as Phuket’s top cop yesterday after arriving from Narathiwat in Thailand’s troubled Deep South, where he served as provincial police commander. His first order to the police chiefs of every police station on the island…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket National Park blitz investigators named, beach restaurants now in firing line

    Phuket National Park blitz investigators named, beach restaurants now in firing line

    PHUKET: The 366 officials who will investigate all privately-owned plots of land along the boundary of Phuket’s Sirinath Marine National Park have been named and will commence before the end of the month. The news was announced by Sirinath National Park chief Cheewapap Cheewatham at a meeting at Provincial Hall today. “We expected to report by the middle of this…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket FC captain “safe’ after car flips, slams into ditch

    Phuket FC captain “safe’ after car flips, slams into ditch

    PHUKET: Phuket FC alternating captain and starting striker Watcharapong “Pae” Jun-ngam was involved in a serious accident following last night’s football match against Sri Racha. Lucky to be alive, he is reported to be safe with no serious injuries. “Pae has got some minor scratches, but he is safe. He was examined by hospital doctors and he has not suffered…

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  • Thai LifeLand of smiles: Recapping the conventions

    Land of smiles: Recapping the conventions

    PHUKET: Here are some highlights of the recent US political conventions for readers who may have missed them on TV: The main thrust of the Republican convention was to emphasize Mitt Romney’s warm humanity. Mitt reminds people of one of those wooden statues of American Indians that used to stand outside cigar stores. To humanize him, they brought out his…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket Sports: Sunshine heralds the first 2012 dinghy series event

    Phuket Sports: Sunshine heralds the first 2012 dinghy series event

    PHUKET: The Phuket Dinghy Series, launched in 2010 by the organizers of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, returned over the weekend ending yesterday. The series comprises three weekend events at different Phuket locations in the lead-up to the King’s Cup. Santi Kanchanbandhu, a member of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organizing Committee, explains what the Phuket Dinghy Series is: “We…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket Sports: Racing to find adventure in Krabi

    Phuket Sports: Racing to find adventure in Krabi

    PHUKET: The popular sport of Adventure Racing is expected to bring 120 teams from around the world to compete in “The Sheraton Krabi Trophy” on November 3. The race is part of the the Amazing Thailand Adventure Race Series and will start and finish on the magnificent Klong Muang Beach where the Sheraton Krabi Beach Resort is located. Race Director…

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  • Thailand NewsWeird World News: Where dreams come true

    Weird World News: Where dreams come true

    PHUKET: Daydreaming has been the noble art of little boys and girls around the world from time immemorial, and in honor of those dreams the Phuket Gazette‘s Weird World News roundup lands headlines of a helicopter delivery of about half a million baht for candy to the creation of the biggest Ferris wheel in the world, and for those who…

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  • Thailand NewsWeird World News: Little boy dreams of SWAT teams delivering cash, Ferris wheels and getting paid trillions to marry a “beauty’

    Weird World News: Little boy dreams of SWAT teams delivering cash, Ferris wheels and getting paid trillions to marry a “beauty’

    PHUKET: Day dreaming has been the noble art of the little boys and girls from time immemorial, and in honor of those dreams, the Phuket Gazette‘s Weird World News roundup this week lands headlines that fulfill them, from a helicopter delivery of about half a million baht for candy to the creation of the biggest Ferris wheel in the world,…

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  • Phuket NewsCrab army marches on Phuket streets

    Crab army marches on Phuket streets

    PHUKET: Phuket Town residents received a shock yesterday as they witnessed an invading army of crabs marching through the streets in the direction of the nearby mangrove forest and sea. Fortunately, the rare phenomenon was not an alien invasion by the crab-men from outer space. The totally natural event, which occurred at about 7pm, involved thousands of mangrove crabs making…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket Poll uncovers “isle of infidelity’

    Phuket Poll uncovers “isle of infidelity’

    PHUKET: More than half the respondents in a Phuket Gazette survey have admitted they have cheated on their partners, with more than 40% saying they are willing to do it again. The Gazette launched the month-long survey after the results of the annual international sex survey by condom-manufacturing firm Durex revealed Thai couples to be among the most promiscuous on…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket Sports: Marlins reel in the Islanders

    Phuket Sports: Marlins reel in the Islanders

    PHUKET: The Islanders fell back into into the five-team relegation zone following a 1-0 loss last night to 3rd place Sri Racha Suzuki FC. Despite a wide margin in league points, the competition, played in front of 3,100 fans, was evenly matched with the Sri Racha “Blue Marlins” enjoying only slightly more possession than Phuket. Indeed, it was looking as…

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  • Phuket News“I have no doubt in my mind….”

    “I have no doubt in my mind….”

    “I have no doubt in my mind that he was with me today all day,” Sergio Garcia said of Ballesteros.PHUKET: Europe claimed the Ryder Cup after staging an amazing fightback on the last day.The American Team went into the tournament yesterday leading 10-6 and only requiring four points from a possible 12 on offer to win the cup. Europe won…

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  • OpinionPhuket Opinion: Being negative can positively save lives

    Phuket Opinion: Being negative can positively save lives

    Pornthip Rattajak, 35, is now the acting director at the Phuket Regional Blood Center. She graduated with a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Medical Technology from Mahidol University. She first started her work in the field as medical laboratory technician at the National Blood Center of the Thai Red Cross Society in Bangkok before joining the Phuket Regional Blood Center…

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