Year: 2013
- Phuket News
Helmetless Phuket motorbike driver dies from head trauma
PHUKET: A helmetless motorbike driver from Phuket Town died last night after losing control of his motorbike and hitting a utility pole in Thalang.Police rushed to the scene to find the body of Kongkait Ngamtong, 26, in a ditch in front of the Muang Thalang School on the northbound side of Thepkrasattri Road, said Thalang Police Officer Narong Muangdoung.“Witnesses said…
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Gone fishing: Man snags Siamese crocodile at Phuket pond
PHUKET: An elevator technician who went night fishing in central Phuket on Tuesday thought he had caught a monitor lizard.But when he got to his house, he discovered he had manhandled a meter-long Siamese crocodile and brought it home on his motorbike.Charee Pattangtanang, 31, went fishing with a friend, Wanchai Hansopa, at their usual spot – a lagoon behind The…
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Bonsai, cacti, palms and ponds – Phuket Gardening
PHUKET: One article could hardly begin to catalog the sheer scope and variety of the Phuket Botanical Garden, with its 15 rai and an army of 30 gardening staff. There are more than 30 independent zones, ranging from Thai inspired mini-gardens to a Japanese style affair complete with miniature pagoda and red rectangular arch; even an English Garden with raised…
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Chinese killed by speedboat at popular Phuket day-trip destination
PHUKET: A Chinese tourist bled to death after being severely cut by a speedboat propeller at Phi Phi Island yesterday afternoon.Chen Peng, 37, jumped from the boat when the engine was still on and the propeller moving, the speedboat’s owner, Chairang Weerakij, told police.The propeller slashed Mr Chen’s legs and stomach. He was taken by speedboat from Pileh Bay to…
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Phuket Explore: Blazing Saddles – Sok it to me baby!
PHUKET: Just three hours north of Phuket is one of Southeast Asia’s most stunning unspoiled natural resources – Khao Sok National Park. As Phuket becomes ever more febrile and hectic, residents and visitors alike increasingly need to escape to such places of physical, spiritual regeneration. We reached Khao Sok National Park on a sweltering April day by heading north across…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Syria pro-rebel alliance UK, US, to meet; Suu Kyi to battle Myanmar Constitution; Kosovo envoy exits Serbia after 48 hours
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Myanmar constitution likely to dash Suu Kyi’s presidential hopes Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Her adoring compatriots believe democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi is destined to become Myanmar’s next president. But don’t bet on it.A year ago, the Nobel Peace Prize winner was feted at home and…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: FDA to torch B10bn of illicit drugs; DSI closes in on supercar duo; White elephant won’t be coming; Jet-setting monk missing
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community FDA ceremony to torch 3.4 tonnes of seized drugs The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will burn 3.4 tonnes of illicit drugs worth Bt10 billion as part of the country’s 42nd official illicit-drug incineration ceremony in Ayutthaya’s Bang Pa-in Industrial…
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Phuket’s new Airport Bus inked to start July 1
HUKET: The ruling committee for Phuket’s public transportation authorities has signed into effect the permit to allow the new bus service from Phuket International Airport to Patong to launch on July 1. The provincial transportation committee, chaired by Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada, voted unanimously yesterday to launch the service. The government departments represented at the meeting – and who…
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Phuket birthday fight ends in stabbing death
PHUKET: Two men were stabbed in a fight at a live-music venue near Chalong Circle early this morning. One of the men died; the other is expected to recover from his wounds.Police have arrested one suspect and are searching for four more.Officers received the report of the stabbing at 3am. When they arrived at Saraphanpleng bar on Patak Road, about…
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Gaping hole in Patong street blocked off, partially filled
PHUKET: Despite what the Director of the Department of Rural Roads Phuket office told the Phuket Gazette yesterday (story here), officials jumped into action to barricade a giant hole in Phang Muang Sai Kor Road in Patong after two motorbike riders found themselves over their heads in water and their motorbikes marooned at the bottom of the pit. The hole…
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US Embassy consular outreach in Phuket
PHUKET: The Consular Section of the American Embassy in Bangkok will hold an Outreach Visit at Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort in Karon tomorrow, June 20. Consular staff will be available from 8am to midday to provide services on: • Passport renewal applications (US$110 or 3,300 baht for adult passports, US$105 or 3,150 baht for a child’s passport). • Notarial…
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Superyacht Rendezvous to rock Kata
PHUKET: Kata Rocks, one of Phuket’s premier oceanfront developments, has been chosen to become the official host sponsor for the 2013 Asia Superyacht Rendezvous event. “This is a logical move for two companies that cater to the lifestyles of individuals, to whom luxury, beauty and tranquility are of paramount importance,” commented organizer, Charles Dwyer. Charlie Dwyer of the Asia Superyacht…
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Phuket Pets: Unchecked aggression
PHUKET: We’ve all heard stories about aggressive dogs and perhaps you have one of these so labeled canines living next door. Many of us have read newspaper articles, here and abroad, depicting vicious attacks on youngsters, or other dogs, by these ‘aggressive’ or ‘bully’ breeds. Of course, we all know the breeds I’m talking about: Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Pit Bulls…
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Thailand News: Songkhla ranked fourth for human trafficking; Car tax scam; Jet-setting monks
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Songkhla ranked fourth highest in human trafficking The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The Royal Thai Police revealed that Songkhla ranked fourth in terms of areas most at risk for human trafficking crimes at 642, after Bangkok’s 1,108, Chumphon’s 997 and Prachuap Khiri Khan’s 848 locations.This report prompted…
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Rough surf serves up bluebottles at Phuket beach
PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) has confirmed that the stingers found washed ashore at Surin Beach this week are bluebottles, also known as Portuguese man o’ war.The stingers found so far are juveniles, reported Phuket Gazette reader Daren Jenner.“The presence of these bluebottles on the west coast started about five days ago with the onset of strong southwest…
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Aussie envoy thrusts weapons in Phuket into the spotlight
PHUKET: The Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Bangkok, Jonathan Kenna, yesterday placed the carrying of weapons on the streets of Phuket into the spotlight at a meeting with the Phuket Governor. “I told the governor that the safety of the tourist is the most important issue,” Mr Kenna, speaking in Thai, told the press following a…
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Chinese tourist drowns off Phuket
PHUKET: A Chinese tourist on holiday with friends in Phuket drowned this afternoon while on a day trip to Koh Racha Yai, about 25 kilometers south of Phuket. Capt Wuttiwat Liang-boonjinda of the Chalong Police named the victim as Li Ran, 28. Ms Li was travelling with five friends who joined about 40 other tourists for the trip to Racha…
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Phuket’s Family festival funds allocated
PHUKET: Members of the fund raising committee for the Phuket Family and Gourmet Festival by Jagota met recently to allocate the second and final round of funding raised during the inaugural event held in February this year. The festival was a resounding success and raised one million baht to support various orphanages and children focused charities in the Greater Phuket…
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Video Report: Man in pink raincoat robs Phuket Family Mart
PHUKET: A man wielding a knife and wearing a pink raincoat jumped over the counter of a convenience store in Thalang early this morning and made off with the contents of a cash register.Police responding to a call at 3:45am found the two female employees unharmed at the Family Mart at the entrance to Baan Lipon School in Srisoonthorn.One of…
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Phuket still on the map at TTM+ 2013
PHUKET: The island is still a top tourist hub in Southeast Asia, with a wide variety of hotels, resorts and hospitality-related businesses representing Phuket at 13th annual Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2013 (TTM+ 2013), held at the IMPACT Exhibition Hall in Bangkok recently. More than 800 delegates arrived from around the region to network with the 420 hospitality related organizations…
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PIMEX 2014 organizer hyped about January date
PHUKET: The next Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX) is open for business, having been taking bookings since early last month, May 2013. PIMEX 2014 is confirmed to take place between January 9 and 12 at Royal Phuket Marina and remains a permanent fixture in the island’s event calendar as it approaches its 11th year. “After careful analysis of the last…
Read More » - Property
Phuket Property: Space solutions
PHUKET: Surging land costs and the resulting trend of ‘residential downsizing’ has been a boon for Phuket’s premier self-storage company, MY STORAGE Self Storage; with its ideally located Patong facility seeing an accelerated demand for its services. Speaking to the Phuket Gazette recently, owners Sukanda Chiaranussati and Robert Akerblom talked about residential market trends as well as their firm’s growth…
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Phuket storm topples marquee at festival, man crushed by speakers
PHUKET: A Phuket Town motorbike taxi driver died after strong wind toppled a marquee covering the stage at Saphan Hin last night, sending speakers crashing down on him. Police and rescue workers arrived at the 10th Annual Southern Prison Products Fair (story here) at about 7:45pm to find Muhammad Poksakul, a 62-year-old motorbike driver at the nearby Phun Pol Night…
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Phuket Property Watch: Color-blind vision for the future
PHUKET: The island’s coconut-esque social media is simmering over political events in shirt-dom. Red, yellow, white and blue. For those who know me, I am firmly a black shirt kind of guy. Yes indeed, day in and day out I just love those casual tees. In case anyone is wondering, yes, I do have a large drawer in my closet…
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Phuket’s DJ Doris out of ICU
PHUKET: Paul Norris, Phuket’s renowned “DJ Doris” on Phuket Island Radio 91.5FM, is out of intensive care and recovering at Bangkok Hospital Phuket. Mr Norris suffered a head injury in what is believed to have been a motorbike accident in Patong early Saturday morning. He was rushed to Patong Hospital by rescue workers. However, he remained unconscious and was transferred…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Putin, Obama face off over Syria at G8; Italy flooded with refugees; Brazil unrest swells; NK negotiator to talk in China
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community European, U.S. leaders launch free-trade talks Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The United States and the European Union launched negotiations for the world’s most ambitious free-trade deal on Monday, promising thousands of new jobs and accelerated growth on both sides of the Atlantic.Trade between Europe and the United…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Insurgent suspect testifies; 5 hurt as Army helicopter ditches; Bangkok dengue; Supercar duo called to surrender
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Suspect names leaders behind bombings, murders and van heist in South: official The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: A suspected insurgent now in custody, Sakariya Tohtayong, has implicated alleged masterminds of the movement behind unrest in the deep South, a senior official said yesterday.Sakariya gave useful testimony that…
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Police continue search for missing Rohingya children
PHUKET: Police continue to search for the missing 22 Rohingya children who have run away from the Phuket Shelter for Children and Families on Koh Sireh. The children have been missing since early April, says Phuket City Police Chief Sermphan Sirikong. “I have notified the investigation team, and from time to time we patrol Muslim areas to look for them…
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Elephant smugglers caught at work in Phuket
PHUKET: Thalang police seized three elephants being illegally transported into Phuket this morning. Nine people were arrested in the early-morning raid and the two trucks transporting the elephants were seized. Suspects told police that a “Piang Sala-ngam” had sent his son-in-law Sa-ngad Padphai down with the trucks from an elephant camp in the northeastern province of Surin. The trucks departed…
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PHUKET VIDEO REPORT: Infamous Black Hole of Patong may not be fixed for weeks
PHUKET: After two motorbikes plunged into a giant pothole in the back streets of Patong early yesterday morning, Phuket authorities say they will not be able to start fixing the road until at least next week. A video posted on YouTube shows a foreigner having to dive into the huge puddle – measuring at least two meters deep, several meters…
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Phuket python chokes the chicken
PHUKET: A three-meter python was found choking a Phuket resident’s chicken late last night. “I was asleep in the house when I was awoken by the sound of a chicken,” said the owner of the fowl, Pairoj Denmalai. “I came outside to find a large python strangling one of my chickens, and immediately contacted Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers,” he said.…
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V-Phuket braves wild weather to stage anti-government protest
PHUKET: Hundreds of V-Phuket protesters, wearing their iconic Guy Fawkes masks, braved the strong wind and lashing rain in Phuket Town yesterday afternoon to continue their protest against the Pheu Thai government under Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The rally in Phuket was held in concert with other “V for Thailand” protests in at least 22 provinces, as well as in…
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Cape Panwa Hotel to host Phuket Raceweek
PHUKET: THE 2013 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek – presented by Mount Gay Rum – celebrates its 10th Anniversary with a strong fleet of boats and international crews taking part from July 17-21 at the five-star Cape Panwa Hotel. The luxurious Cape Panwa Hotel is an ideal regatta venue with its established international reputation, private beach and pier, and spectacular…
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Young American dies in Phuket motorbike crash
PHUKET: A 27-year-old American man died instantly on Saturday when he was hit by a Chang beer delivery truck on Wiset Road, in Rawai. “According to witness reports, American Nicolas Javier Solis exited Soi Kok Ma… onto Wiset Road, heading to Rawai Beach,” said Lt Wuthiwat Leangboonjinda of the Chalong Police. “As he exited Soi Kok Ma, he was struck…
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Iraqi wrestling coach dies of heart attack in Phuket
PHUKET: A coach with the Iraqi wrestling team in Phuket for the Asian Junior Wrestling Championships died of a heart attack on Saturday night while returning from a night out on Phuket’s renowned Soi Bangla. Kadee Abes, 44, from Iraq, was pronounced dead at 1:28am yesterday, Dr Patrinee Thammasrisawat of Patong Hospital told the Phuket Gazette. “We tried for about…
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Phuket tourist safety gets 300 CCTV camera boost in Patong
PHUKET: The push by Phuket authorities to increase tourist safety across the island has received a much welcome boost with Patong CCTV control rooms now up and running. The new system, launched as part of the Patong Safety Zone initiative (story here), displays footage from 32 high-quality police CCTV cameras and 300 private CCTV systems at three central locations, Patong…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Sloan ranger named for Gitmo closure; Iran parties for cleric president-elect; Czech out in graft scandal; Kremlin says kiss my Superbowl ring
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community State Department to name lawyer Cliff Sloan to close Guantanamo Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The State Department on Monday is expected to announce the appointment of Washington lawyer Cliff Sloan to oversee the closure of the controversial Guantanamo detention camp, sources familiar with the decision said on…
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