Month: June 2014
- Phuket News
Landslide prevention meetings take backseat at Phuket’s Big Buddha construction site
PHUKET: Meetings regarding landslide prevention and water management at one of Phuket’s most popular tourist attractions, Big Buddha, have fallen by the wayside. Construction at the site was halted on February 28, prompting a full inspection led by Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosuttirak, after Karon villagers filed a complaint alleging that it had caused landslides last year and could do so…
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Phuket first: Vegetarian Festival twice in one year
PHUKET: For the first time in its history, the world famous Phuket Vegetarian Festival will occur twice in one year. This year will see twice the number of 9th lunar months in the Chinese lunar calendar and twice the number of visits from the gods. However, maybe not twice the amount of celebrating. “According to the Chinese lunar calendar there…
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Beached whale found dead off island south of Phuket
PHUKET: An autopsy on a Cuvier’s beaked whale that was found dead on a beach south of Phuket yesterday morning revealed that the mammal had died of a disease that afflicted its lungs and kidneys. A marine officer on a routine survey of the Koh Li Bong coastline in Trang Province found the whale’s body on the beach at about…
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Insights of a veteran hotelier
At 59 years young, Gerard Tan has some years behind him, but he doesn’t let that slow him down. “We should go out and drink one night,” says Tan as he settled down to a strong coffee in the courtyard of the Millennium Resort Patong. However, he can’t be blamed for his festive mood. After a seven-year stint as the…
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Facebook is getting less friendly
PHUKET: A few weeks back a friend of mine told me he’d seen a great band at Gig’s Jam Club in Nai Harn. It sounded like an amazing night and I was kicking myself that I missed it. Then I checked my calendar and it turned out I hadn’t been busy that night and was literally just up the road…
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Amazon unleashes the Fire Phone
PHUKET: For those who have not yet drunk the iPhone Kool-Aid, your time has come to rejoice in the glory of the new Amazon Fire Phone. Announced by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on June 22 and ultimately being shipped from July 27, the Fire Phone has promised to stir things up in the smartphone sphere. At this point, it has…
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Police decline to investigate drive-by shooting until victims file complaint
PHUKET: Police will not investigate any further into a drive-by shooting that injured four people in Thalang early yesterday morning until the victims file a police complaint. The shooting, a single shotgun blast, took place at about 1am in front of a house near the Tah Reua Shrine on Thepkrasattri Road in Koh Kaew. “The victims told us that they…
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Swede arrested for Phuket property fraud, buyers out B22mn
PHUKET: Police arrested Russian-born Swedish national Vladimir Antochvili, 29, in Bangkok over the weekend on charges of defrauding Phuket property buyers in deals totalling more than 20 million baht. Officers arrested Mr Antochvili at an apartment in Soi Ramkhamhaeng, in the Hua Mak area of Bang Kapi, at about 12:45pm, Maj Tienchai Chomphu of Phuket Immigration told the Phuket Gazette.…
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General blasts banks over drug money accounts
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community General blasts banks over drugs The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Assistant Army chief General Paibul Khumchaya is up in arms over what he considers to be a lack of scruples in the banking sector, after discovering that commercial banks are accepting deposits from imprisoned drug…
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Huge cache of seized weapons revealed
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Huge cache of seized weapons revealed The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The junta yesterday paraded lethal weapons confiscated from warring political groups in front of military attaches and the media. National Council for Peace and Order spokesman Winthai Suvari said heading off further bloodshed was…
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Man sets himself on fire in Japan in defence protest
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Man sets himself on fire in Japan in defence protest Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A man in Japan set himself on fire at a busy intersection in Tokyo on Sunday in an apparent protest against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s plans to ease limits of the…
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North Korea launches two missiles, defies U.N. ban
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community North Korea launches two missiles, defies U.N. ban Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into seas east off its coast on Sunday, South Korea’s military said, defying a U.N. ban on the isolated country testing such weapons. The launch came…
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Huntelaar penalty gives Dutch last-gasp 2-1 win
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Huntelaar penalty gives Dutch last-gasp 2-1 win Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A stoppage time penalty from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar gave the Netherlands a dramatic 2-1 victory in the World Cup second round on Sunday minutes after Mexico seemed certain to reach the quarter-finals. With two minutes…
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Phuket Police tracing human trafficking network back to Cambodia
PHUKET: The Army has ordered Phuket police to trace the human trafficking network that led a group of Cambodians into debt-trapped servitude in a Phuket Town clothing store (story here). The owner of the shop, Pasita Sangsakul, from Bangkok, defended her purchase of the staffers when she was questioned by Phuket City Police at Phuket Provincial Hall. “I purchased the…
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Phuket tourist lad lost on Bangla quickly reunited with family
PHUKET: An Australian eight-year-old boy lost in the wilds of Soi Bangla early this morning was reunited with his anxious family within 30 minutes, thanks to the help of the Phuket Tourist Police. It was about midnight when an Aussie family – mother, father and boy – tearfully informed tourist police volunteers that they had lost their fourth family member.…
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World Cup hosts Brazil aim for quarter-final spot
PHUKET: Hosts Brazil aim to become the first team to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup on Saturday by maintaining their superb recent record against opponents Chile. Uruguay, reeling from the loss of suspended striker Luis Suarez, meet in-form Colombia in Saturday’s other second round match which again pits two South American rivals against each other. Seeking a sixth…
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All eyes on Foxy Lady for Phuket Raceweek (video)
PHUKET: Hot off a win at the Samui Regatta last month, Bill Bremner’s Foxy Lady VI will be looking to kickstart their campaign to retain the crown as AsianYachting Grand Prix (AYGP) champions at the Phuket Raceweek Regatta from July 16. Foxy Lady scored a two-second win in the last race at Samui to be crowned the 2013/14 Asian Yachting…
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Phuket Muslims set to start Ramadan tomorrow
PHUKET: Members of the 56 mosques that dot Phuket were asked to search the night sky for the moon yesterday to determine the beginning of Ramadan (story here). However, it was not spotted. “The sliver of moon was not seen last night,” said Piyadet Chuachalard, Phuket Islamic Committee Secretary. “However, the Central Islamic Council of Thailand in Bangkok has confirmed…
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Expert demonstrates power of rip current at Phuket’s deadliest beach
PHUKET: It’s that time of year, when the dark moisture-laden clouds tumble into this island paradise and the sea turns into frothing, churning mayhem. But that doesn’t stop people from jumping in for a little dip and next thing they know the beach has dropped out from beneath their feet and constant pounding waves start to wear them out. Such…
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Thai society, Phuket struggle to survive a bender
Special Report Thailand consumes more than twice as much booze as the average Southeast Asian country, and faces the multitude of problems that come along with it, according to the World Health Organization and Phuket experts. Here, the Phuket Gazette‘s Chutharat Plerin investigates. PHUKET: A barrage of statistics released by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its “2014 Global report…
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Australian embassy extends best wishes for Ramadan
PHUKET: The Australian Ambassador to Thailand, James Wise, has issued a special message to all Muslim Australians, who will begin celebrating the holy month of Ramadan within the coming days. Amb Wise echoed the Ramadan message by Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, issued in a statement on Friday, noting that Thailand’s Muslim community made a vibrant contribution to Thai society.…
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Swedish cyclists bound for Phuket delayed at Iranian border
PHUKET: Despite visa delays, the team of bold Swedish cyclists peddling their way from Northern Europe to Phuket to raise funds for a post-tsunami orphanage (story here) are on target to arrive before the 10th anniversary of the 2004 tsunami that devastated the region on Boxing Day. As of yesterday, the team was just 35km from the border of Iran…
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Phuket Vice Governor declares Surin Beach beautiful again
PHUKET: Officials inspecting Surin Beach yesterday, following the deadline for illegal beach establishments to be removed, found a virtually pristine environment. “What I can see now is a very beautiful Surin Beach,” said Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tippayapongtada, who led the group. “It is very clean. This is what we want, so both Thais and foreigners can enjoy the real…
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Phuket’s German honorary consul to retire after 12 years of service
PHUKET: Dedicated German Honorary Consul for Phuket Dirk Naumann will retire next month, after 12 years of service on the island. Mr Naumann will hand the honorary baton over to his daughter, Anette Jimenez Hoechstetter. “My last day will be July 18. That same day, my daughter will take over the position of German honorary consul for Phuket,” Mr Naumann…
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Quicksilver catches breaks at Kata Beach to re-brand Phuket low season
PHUKET: National surf pros glided into Phuket for Quicksilver’s official opening of the Phuket surf season at Kata Beach today. “We used to have our surf event in September, but this year… we just kicked it off to let people know our surf season is starting in Phuket now,” said Surached Mungthong, QS Retail (Thailand) Ltd general manager. “We are…
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Phuket Police arrest first suspect in gang murder of hotel staffer
PHUKET: Police have arrested one suspect involved in the fatal stabbing of a Karon hotel employee last weekend in Phuket Town. Sudjai Treerat, 29, confessed to driving the motorbike spotted in CCTV footage taken after the attack, Lt Col Somsak Thongkliang of the Phuket City Police told the Phuket Gazette. “Mr Sudjai has been charged with gang murder,” Col Somsak…
Read More » - Thai Life
Read now or PaperLater
PHUKET: It’s a common mantra, even among media pros, that newspapers are a dying breed of communication. Many feel that once another generation or two have left this world, the daily printed page that some still pine for will cease to be. In many ways it is a blessing. A major reason being the immense amounts of resources embodied in…
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Southeast Asia fears militant fallout as Mideast conflict widens
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Southeast Asia fears militant fallout as Mideast conflict widens Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Four gun-wielding rebel fighters sit relaxing on a wall, their faces concealed by scarves and ski masks. All are Indonesians who came to Syria to join the Islamist insurgency, the cameraman says,…
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Breaking News: Debt-trapped Cambodians rescued in Phuket from human trafficker
PHUKET: Officers accompanied by armed soldiers today descended on a clothing store in the heart of Phuket Town to safely recover two Cambodians who were trafficked to Phuket to work for 90 baht a day. The Cambodians, a husband and wife, were taken to Phuket Provincial Hall, along with three other Cambodian women found working in the shop Lai Sua…
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Keep the Phuket cleanup ball rolling, take down jet-skis next
PHUKET: As the rains of the southwest monsoon fall and low-season tourism arrival figures plummet, there could not be a better time for the National Council for Peace and Order to be carrying out the long-overdue crackdown on the many illegal businesses that have tarnished the island’s reputation for too many years. The removal of illegal taxi stands along the…
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Phuket driving test: forget about the parking
PHUKET: Someone I know recently applied for a driver’s license and failed the parallel-parking test. “You hit the pole,” announced the proctor from her little booth. And I began to wonder: in the nation which has the third-highest road fatality rate in the world, does it really matter how well you parallel park? Being third globally (according to the World…
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Thousands turn out for Phuket’s “harmonious reconciliation’ concert
PHUKET: More than 8,000 people gathered at Sanam Chai park yesterday to join the “Phuket Harmonious Reconciliation” concert. The concert, ordered by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), was held in recognition of the United Nations’ International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. “We had 8,000 seats prepared at at the field, but that wasn’t enough. A…
Read More » - Thai Life
Caught in a love Catch-22
PHUKET: Former Phuket expat Brent William Otto, 45, and Sayam “Kob” Senamuen, 34, weathered a break-up, long separations and the trauma of cancer before reaching the altar last weekend. But the toughest obstacle of all was a US law that didn’t recognize gay marriage. The Phuket Gazette’s Leslie Porterfield reports. The couple met at a pub in Silom while Brent…
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Phuket tour bus driver charged with hit-and run slaying of Kamnan Winai’s son
PHUKET: Police have charged a driver from local bus company Phuket ARS Tour for the hit-and-run accident that killed Kiattisak Chidchiew, the 19-year-old son of Winai Chidchiew, late Wednesday night. Mr Kiattisak was riding his motorbike home along the Karon beachfront road when a bus approached him from behind, caused him to fall off his bike, and then ran over…
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US ambassador lauds junta’s labor policy
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community US ambassador lauds junta’s labor policy The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Only days after the United States cut military aid to Thailand, US Ambassador Kristie Kenney yesterday praised the ruling junta for its new regulation on migrant labor, describing it as “a good policy” to…
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World Cup over for Suarez after record ban for biting
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community World Cup over for Suarez after record ban for biting Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Uruguay’s Luis Suarez was hit with the biggest ban imposed at a World Cup on Thursday as FIFA threw the book at one of soccer’s most talented but controversial players for…
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Ronaldo misfires as Portugal and Ghana bow out
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ronaldo misfires as Portugal and Ghana bow out Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goal of the World Cup but crucially wasted several other good chances in Portugal’s 2-1 win over a haphazard Ghana on Thursday that sent both sides home. The…
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