Month: November 2012
- Phuket News
Phuket heartbreak blamed for Rassada suicide
PHUKET BREAKING NEWS: A man was found dead in his home in Rassada, north of Phuket Town, this morning after neighbors reported a loud argument between him and his girlfriend late last night.Police have yet to close their investigation, but at this stage are treating the case as suicide, the Phuket Gazette was told.
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One dead, 43 hospitalized after “strange’ outbreak on Koh Lanta
PHUKET BREAKING NEWS: Officials on Koh Lanta in Krabi province are investigating the cause of an outbreak that has been blamed for one death so far, and has left 43 other villagers in hospital.Despite initial concerns the villagers had contracted hand, foot and mouth disease, officials are investigating whether it was a sick turtle that the villagers had eaten that…
Read More » - Property
Phuket Property: How to acquire Thai property
PHUKET: Separating emotional excitement from the need to impartially assess the risks of an important investment when purchasing a dream home is not easy. A real estate agent may have shown the purchaser glamorous photographs and conducted a personalized tour, so the desire to sign on the dotted line might impair the purchaser’s judgment. The real estate industry in Thailand,…
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Phang Nga politician gunned down in broad daylight
PHUKET: While Phang Nga Immigration officers were busy rounding up the 112 Rohingya refugees who landed at Tai Muang on Saturday, police in the neighboring town of Khok Kloy were responding to a drive-by assassination of a leading local community figure. Lt Nakhon Tangruamsub of Khok Kloy Police told the Phuket Gazette that he received a report of a man…
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Holiday Inn opens in Ao Nang
PHUKET: The Holiday Inn brand has arrived on the coastline of Krabi with the company taking over the 55-guestroom Sala Talay Resort and Spa on Ao Nang beach recently. “We are pleased to announce the initial phase of the opening of our first Holiday Inn property in this beautiful region of Krabi.” says Steve Ng, the general manager of the…
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Phuket Property Watch: Location, location, location
PHUKET: Reading the above headline you would have to believe that either I somehow suffered a momentary nervous breakdown, or else those three drinks before dinner were triple shots. Does the truth lay at the bottom of a glass, obscured from sight by the swirling ghost of a melting ice cube? Probably not. There isn’t much poetic license in real…
Read More » - Thai Life
Phuket Gardening: Adding yet more green to your living spaces
PHUKET: For years – five to be precise – I have kept about fifteen plants, potted in ceramic containers, on the patio outside my front door. The original idea came from my Thai partner who wanted “lucky plants” to grace and guard the entrance to the house. So we slowly acquired some of these talismans, mostly with unknown botanical names.…
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Thai authorities arrest 112 Rohingya after boat washes ashore in Phang Nga
PHUKET: Heavy seas on Saturday forced a boat loaded with 112 Rohingya, attempting the perilous journey to Malaysia, to land north of Phuket on Tai Muang beach in Phang Nga, where they were promptly arrested by the authorities. According to police the boat was part of a flotilla of seven boats ferrying over 1,000 Rohingya that departed their native Rakhine…
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Burst water main topples power pole in Phuket
PHUKET: A power pole that fell onto a house and injured a man in Phuket yesterday was unstable due to the water erosion caused by a burst water pipe, locals told the police. Police received the report of the incident at about 3pm and arrived to find power lines hanging on the ground near a freshly dug waterline trough on…
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Phuket Poll: Let us pay, not run for visas, expats say
PHUKET: More than half of all respondents to a Phuket Gazette online poll have voted for options other than making the obligatory, and often dangerous, visa runs that are required every 30 to 90 days in order to continue their stay in Thailand. Nearly a quarter of all respondents, including Thai nationals, preferred foreigners to present themselves to the Phuket…
Read More » - Business News
Doing Business in Thailand: AMCHAM Legal Forum
PHUKET: AMCHAM will hold a forum titled ‘Doing Business in Thailand – 3 Things You Should Know’, on Thursday, November 29, at Royal Phuket Marina. Three top international lawyers will be on hand to talk about how to do business without Thai nominees, enforcing contracts through arbitration, and the increasing focus on criminal corrupt practices and anti-corruption laws. The event…
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Man injured as power pole falls on house
PHUKET BREAKING NEWS: A man was rushed to hospital for immediate treatment of injuries sustained yesterday when a power pole fell onto a house in Cherng Talay, on Phuket’s west coast, dragging live power cables down to the street.
Read More » - World News
Petraeus-Broadwell Affair: Irony and tragedy before and after the revelation
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international communityPHUKET / CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Reuters): When Paula Broadwell first met David Petraeus in 2006, she was a soldier-turned-graduate student at Harvard University. The acclaimed U.S. Army general gave her his card and offered to help her with her studies.Broadwell soon began trading emails with the general, and…
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Earthquake Update: Reports from Myanmar say little damage, but one dead, several missing
PHUKET (Reuters): The major earthquake that shook Mandalay this morning, and was felt in Bangkok but apparently not Phuket, is likely to have caused limited damage to Myanmar’s second larget city, although one person has been reported dead and several construction workers are missing. The 6.6 magnitude quake struck around 60 km (37 miles) northwest of Mandalay, the U.S. Geological…
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Strong earthquake felt in Bangkok this morning; no reports of tremors in Phuket
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international communityPHUKET: A major earthquake measuring 6.6 magnitude struck central Myanmar this morning, around 60 km (37 miles) northwest of the city of Mandalay, the U.S. Geological Survey said.Residents in Bangkok, the capital of neighbouring Thailand, also said they felt the strong quake.There have been no known reports of…
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Phuket World Sports: Klitschko triumphs over Wach, retains world title belts
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international communityReuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET / HAMBURG: World heavyweight boxing champion Vladimir Klitschko was made to go the distance against Polish challenger Mariusz Wach but earned a unanimous points decision last night to retain his four title belts.The 36-year-old Ukrainian, who holds the IBF, IBO, WBO and WBA crowns,…
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FIFA Futsal World Cup: Thailand face Spain in round of 16
PHUKET: Hosts of the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2012, Thailand, have reached a new benchmark by advancing to the second round of the prestigious tournament – for the first time in four appearances. A shock win by the Solomon Islands over Guatemala on the final day of the World Cup’s group stage proved to be a blessing for Thailand, who…
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Phuket Poll: Should Phuket fight for the right to party?
PHUKET: Paris Hilton’s announcement late last month that a two-day dance party will be held at Surin Beach to celebrate New Year 2013 has set the cat among the pigeons, sparking a debate over whether or not Phuket should host such large-scale events. The event, being organized by Sydictive Element, is hoping to bring 14 world-renowned DJs and artists to…
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Phuket motorists in three death-defying accidents in one day
PHUKET: With the tourism high season fast approaching and Phuket’s roads about to become much busier, several Phuket motorists managed to escape death in three separate serious accidents all occurring within 18 hours. The most recent was a collision between a tour van and a six-wheeled dirt truck on the Patong-Kamala road at about 11:30am today. Capt Jakkapong Luang-aon of…
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Krabi Police reject YouTube rapist bail blame
PHUKET: The Krabi Provincial Police will post a YouTube video in response to the “Evil man in Krabi” music video that has caused a furore in Phuket’s sister tourism province across Phang Nga Bay. The news was announced at a press conference yesterday called by Krabi Governor Prasit Osathanon to answer publicly what action has been taken in the case.…
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Phuket Sports: Breaking free from the fear of choking
PHUKET: It’s been an eventful few weeks with Sumitra “Dear” Basnyat winning the inaugural Sugarpova contest and playing events in Bahrain and Bangkok. Sumitra concluded a major change with her equipment sponsor, which means for the next critical phase of her career we will be using and promoting Pacific racquets/grips and strings. Maria Sharapova launched her Sugarpova candy brand a…
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Phuket Sailing: Youth sailing club
PHUKET: It was a slow start to the day as sailors were greeted with blue skies and no wind. The morning was spent under the guidance of Akapoj Kankeaw (Tik) and Teerapong Tokratoak (Nu), both previous winners of the Phuket King’s Cup Optimist Regatta 2011, on racing tactics and boat tuning. After lunch, a steady breeze picked up, which provided…
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Phuket Sports: King’s Cup helps sports tourism
PHUKET: Recognized throughout the eastern hemisphere as the premier sailing event of its kind, the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta will once more put on a spectacular display of the finest sailing talent from around the world from December 1 to 8, 2012. In addition, the Regatta’s gravitas in attracting sailors from over 35 countries, and some of the fastest racing…
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Phuket Sports: English Premier League review and look ahead
PHUKET: Robin Van Persie scored his 10th league goal of the season against his former team, Arsenal, to help send Manchester United on their way to a comfortable 2-1 win. On this showing, Arsenal have a long way to go if they want to be taken seriously as title contenders. The sending off of Jack Wilshere for two yellow cards…
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Phuket incinerator struggling to cope with landfill, rising tide of trash
PHUKET: Phuket’s main landfill site on the outskirts of Phuket Town is a long way from disappearing, despite the new 960-million-baht incinerator working at near-capacity of 700 tons of trash a day. Prachum Suriya, chief of the Phuket City Municipality Environment Office, confirmed to the Phuket Gazette on Wednesday that the landfill site is “100 per cent full”. Earlier in…
Read More » - World News
World News: Syria – Millions in need of aid as winter sets in
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thousands flee Syria in exodus, millions more in need of aid Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Thousands of Syrians fled their country yesterday in one of the biggest refugee exoduses of the 20-month civil war after rebels seized a border town, and the United Nations warned that…
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Brazil Ambassador announces Honorary Consul for Phuket
PHUKET: Brazilian Ambassador Paulo Cesar Meira de Vasconcellos was in Phuket this week to install Jiratha Thavornwongwong as the Brazilian Honorary Consul for Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi.At the Kata Beach Resort and Spa on Thursday, Ambassador Meira de Vasconcellos was joined by Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut, Phuket Senator Thanyarat Achariyachai and host of other Phuket dignitaries. “I am very…
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Phuket wall collapse prompts buildings safety blitz
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut has vowed to set up a task force to inspect building sites on hill slopes across the island in order to prevent any further incidents like the wall collapse that endangered the lives of a mother and child this week. Atchara Jutisen, 28, and her 3-month-old baby boy Attawat “Big” Chottantikul last Sunday escaped injury…
Read More » - Opinion
Phuket Opinion: Let crime take center stage
PHUKET: Having an apprehended bank robber give advice on how to keep banks safe from similar armed felons was just one of the interesting developments regarding “financial security” in Phuket this week. Confessed bank robber Anusit Kaewmookda suggested that each bank branch have a security guard on duty to deter robbers. Despite Mr Anusit’s good intentions with such advice, the…
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International Cricket: Rain delays start of Aussie test
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World sporting news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Rain delays start in Australia-South Africa test Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Heavy rain at the Gabba prevented the second day of the first test between Australia and South Africa from getting underway today.South Africa had reached 255 for two in their first innings with Hashim Amla…
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Krabi Tourism chief blames police rape case cover-up for tourism backlash
PHUKET: The president of the Krabi Tourism Association has criticized the police for their handling of a rape case, accusing the local authorities of a failed cover-up that has now backfired and is costing local resorts lost revenues through booking cancellations by tourists.The news follows the posting online of a YouTube music video called “Evil man from Krabi”. The video,…
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Phuket hoteliers claim Paris Hilton party sparks B8mn in room cancellations
PHUKET: The hoteliers of eight resorts who have appealed to the Phuket Governor to not approve the huge Sydictive new year party at Surin Beach have claimed that just the announcement of the event by global celebrity Paris Hilton has already cost the resorts 8 million baht in room cancellations. Among the hoteliers chief concerns are the level of noise…
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Phuket friends to hold Chris Hart Memorial Football Tournament
PHUKET: Friends, coworkers and footballing colleagues of Chris Hart, who died tragically in a motorbike accident on Thepkrasattri Road in Thalang on Tuesday night, are invited to attend a seven-a-side football tournament in his honor. Eric Haeg, who organized the event, to be held at Headstart School, wrote on his Facebook page: “Please feel free to attend even if you’re…
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Phuket-based hotel booking site sells for US$25mn
PHUKET: Blair Speers, founder of the Phuket-based hotel booking website HotelTravel.com, sold the company to Indian online travel agency (OTA) MakeMyTrip.com for US$25 million (over 760mn baht).Mr Speers, a resident of Phuket for the past 20 years, founded HotelTravel.com in 1999.MakeMyTrip.com reportedly paid US$15mn in both cash and shares upfront, with the remaining US$10mn to be paid in MakeMyTrip shares…
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New generation of rescue workers train up for marine incidents
PHUKET: A new generation of rescue workers and Phuket Marine Police received necessary training in marine search and rescue as part of their adaptation to the growing number of water related deaths on the island, said the Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation President.Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation workers, who are more normally associated with the grisly business of saving lives on the roads, spent…
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Baby elephant DNA results finally revealed
PHUKET: After months of silence, the DNA results needed to determine the legality of three baby elephants seized in raids on Phuket in February have been released for two of the three young pachyderms, while one’s fate is still undetermined. The DNA results for the baby elephant seized from the Phu Thai Souvenir Market in Chalong proved that it was…
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FIFA Futsal World Cup: Thai fans keeping fingers crossed for Serbia/Russia win
PHUKET: With the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2012 preparing for its final four matches of the group stage tonight, local fans will be closely monitoring the results, which will have an impact on the fate of the Thailand national squad. Despite losing two of its three Group A matches, this year’s hosts, Thailand, may still advance to the second round…
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