Month: July 2015
- Cannabis News
National park pot dealer busted with 2.5kg
PHUKET: A Khao Lak-Lamru National Park employee was snagged with more than two kilograms of marijuana during a sting operation on Monday. Kathachai Panboonthong, 36, confessed to police that he had been dealing drugs to international tourists and teens in the area for a ‘long time’, Takuapa District Chief Manit Pianthong explained. “When we searched his motorbike we found 2.5kg…
Read More » - Phuket News
PRBC hosts ‘Blood for Mom’ event
PHUKET: The Phuket Regional Blood Center (PRBC) is celebrating HM Queen Sirikit’s 83rd birthday with a special blood donation event. ‘Blood for Mom’ will take place at the PRBC in Phuket Town on August 12. Early donors will receive a complimentary t-shirt. “Currently we have 515 units of blood on hand,” PRBC Chief Pornthip Rattajak said. “However, we would like…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket beauty first runner-up in Miss Universe Thailand pageant
PHUKET: Phuket native Chavika ‘Yim’ Watsang, 19, became Miss Universe Thailand 2015’s first runner-up at the pageant held in Bangkok on Saturday. “I can’t describe my feelings in words, I never thought an average girl like myself would have many fans with the audience at Royal Paragon Hall calling out my name. It was the greatest moment in my life,”…
Read More » - Phuket News
Hard Rock Cafe singer found dead
PHUKET: A singer from Hard Rock Cafe in Patong was found dead, hanged by an electrical wire in his home, early this morning. “We found Niwatchai Srisang, 39, hanging by an electric wire from a bedroom window,” said Lt Charus Lempand of the Wichit Police. “There were no signs of a struggle on his body, only the mark on his…
Read More » - Business News
Kata Group prepares for stock market listing, expansion
PHUKET: Hospitality company Kata Group Resorts is readying to embark on a major new phase of expansion following the appointment of renowned financial consultants Asset Pro Management (APM) Co Ltd. APM will prepare Kata Group Resorts, owner and operator of six resorts in Southern Thailand, for a listing on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) after the hospitality company’s business…
Read More » - Opinion
Opinion: Phuket’s only woman lifeguard stands tall
Jongdee Haemkaew, 35, from Songkhla, is the assistant sport and recreational manager at Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort. A former taekwondo athlete with a bachelor’s degree in health and sport science from Thaksin University in Pattalung, Ms Jongdee is the first female lifeguard on Phuket and one of the first to be certified by Surf Life Saving Australia. She has…
Read More » - Phuket News
American fugitive arrested in Phuket
PHUKET: Local police arrested an American fugitive on Saturday who was wanted for an estimated US$2 million (about 68,995,000 baht) internet fraud case in New York. Theodore Andrew Werner, 48, was presented in a press conference led by Maj Gen Charn Wimolsri, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), in Bangkok yesterday. Mr Werner had allegedly been duping others…
Read More » - Phuket News
Russian tourists rescued after jet-ski incident
PHUKET: Two Russian tourists were safely rescued from an island off the coast of Karon Beach last night after their rented jet-ski died mid-ride and was pulled out to sea. “A rescue team was sent out after being notified by the jet-ski owner that two tourists had disappeared after an hour,” said Itthiporn Sangkaew, deputy mayor of Karon. “Rescuers took…
Read More » - Thai Life
In Focus: Chalong art evolution
PHUKET: Believe it or not, chaotic Chalong is slowly evolving into a destination where people want to live and tourists want to visit. Thanks to entrepreneurs like Oliver Schibli, who has opened his own art gallery, Bubu Collection, next to Wine Connection, people now have somewhere to go to look at beautiful creations. Oliver first arrived in Phuket from his…
Read More » - Phuket News
Two seriously injured in truck crash
PHUKET: Two people were seriously injured when a pick-up truck collided head-on with a cement truck on wet roads in front of Supercheap in Bang Tao this afternoon. “The pick-up truck driver and passenger, who were both seriously injured, had already been rushed to Thalang Hospital by the time police arrived,” Lt Peerasit Nhupayan of the Cherng Talay Police told…
Read More » - Phuket News
Villagers waiting for compensation complain to governor
PHUKET: A group of villagers filed a complaint with the governor this morning over officials failing to compensate them after parts of their homes were destroyed during a Rassada Municipality drainage ditch construction project in 2013. The case has been in process for two years, culminating in a agreement on May 12 this year that Rassada Municipality would compensate the…
Read More » - Phuket News
Governor leads 500 bikers in “Bike for Mom’ practice ride
PHUKET: In anticipation of a nationwide Mother’s Day ‘Bike for Mom’ event on August 16, a practice ride was held in Phuket yesterday to determine what issues, if any, the bikers will face on the day. Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong led a brigade of 500 bikers through the 26-kilometer route, which starts at Phuket Provincial Hall, journey through Phuket Town…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket school robbed of B240k worth of electronics
PHUKET: Police are hunting for a criminal or criminals who swiped 240,000 baht worth of laptops* from Satree Phuket School’s science math center this weekend. “We received the report at 8:30am today when a school employee opened up the center after it was closed for the weekend,” Phuket City Police Deputy Superintendent Chao Phomna told the Phuket Gazette. In addition…
Read More » - Phuket News
Raceweek comes to an end
PHUKET: A pleasant eight knots welcomed sailors on the final day of the 2015 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek. PRO Simon James wasted no time in getting the fleet into sequence. Island courses for all: around the windward mark and back around Lone Island to the finish for all classes except IRC Racing I, who headed off on a longer…
Read More » - Cannabis News
Kratom culture
PHUKET: The arrest of a low-ranking Royal Thai Navy officer for smuggling a large shipment of kratom, Mitragyna speciosa, into Phuket’s primary party town of Patong this week is only a flake on the epidermis of a complicated, political and cultural battle against the illegal drug. The use of the substance in a number of wild concoctions has infiltrated many…
Read More » - Phuket News
Officials fear marine life hit by wrecked cargo ship
PHUKET: Local officers have filed a preemptive notice to Chalong Police over the recovery of a wrecked 67.6 meter-long mulch-purpose cargo vessel in fear that a significant amount of damage has been done to the coral reefs along Koh Hei, also known as Coral Island. Sinaran Andaman wrecked into Koh Hei on July 8 in rough seas that sank two…
Read More » - Phuket News
Chasing down breeze on Day 2 of Phuket Raceweek
PHUKET: As the start boat for the 2015 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek left the anchorage yesterday morning there were a lot of anxious faces on board. After a tricky and tiring first day, where the Wind Gods delivered seven knots at best and for most of the day a little less, the forecasts for Day 2 were no better.…
Read More » - Phuket News
Volunteer lifeguard ranks swell by 60
PHUKET: 60 volunteer lifeguards completed their training this past week, adding to the ranks of Phuket’s lifeguards during the dangerous southwest monsoon season. “Most of the volunteers are hotel beach employees who would likely get a chance to rescue people from the sea. However, ordinary people have also volunteered,” Phuket Lifeguard Club President Prathaiyuth Chuayuan said yesterday. Mr Prathaiyuth explained…
Read More » - Phuket News
Crackdown on Phuket tour companies continues
PHUKET: Twelve tour companies with foreign shareholders suspected of using Thai nominees to maintain control over their businesses have been given five days to submit documents proving their legality. The Department of Special Investigations (DSI) mounted a raid on Thursday with Santi Pawai, director of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) Phuket office, and other relevant officials on 16…
Read More » - Phuket News
Korean ignores warnings, drowns in Phuket
PHUKET: A Korean tourist, who allegedly ignored hotel staff when warned about the current dangers of the sea, drowned last night. Seunchei Yang, 20, was recovered by employees of Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort and rushed to Thalang Hospital. He was pronounced dead on arrival. “We questioned those working and they confirmed that Mr Yang was part of a group…
Read More » - Phuket News
Verdict date set for PhuketWan in Computer Crimes Act case
PHUKET: Alan Morison and Chutima Sidasathian, of local news blog PhuketWan, will hear the verdict on September 1 for charges of criminal defamation and violations of the Computer Crimes Act following the conclusion of the trial yesterday. According to the court hearing, the charges stem from a report published on July 17, 2013, which contained excerpts from a Reuters special…
Read More » - Phuket News
Thalang officials hunt for human-trafficking victims
PHUKET: Phuket officials checked several Thalang construction sites yesterday for signs of illegal workers who could possibly be connected to human trafficking. “The Phuket human-trafficking prevention and suppression committee had a meeting last month to create a plan for cracking down on human trafficking,” said Kriangkrai Apabootsayapan, chief of the Phuket Provincial Labor Protection and Welfare Office. “We will be…
Read More » - Phuket News
Four Phuket taxi drivers arrested for gambling
PHUKET: Four Phuket taxi drivers were arrested for gambling in Patong yesterday. Patong Police jump started an anti-firearm and crime crackdown recently ordered by the Royal Thai Police Headquarters in Bangkok by inspecting three places where they had reason to believe crimes were being committed. “The time period for this campaign is July 15 through 19,” said Lt Col Sutthichai…
Read More » - Phuket News
A Decade Ago: New beach, new crisis
PHUKET: The real seller in the July 16-22 issue of the Phuket Gazette wasn’t the page-one story. It was Athiga Jundee’s ‘Inside Story’, which played off a t-shirt circulating through the shopping arcades of the island, and which reads: ‘Phuket – 2001: Bomb Alert; 2002: SARS; 2003: Bird Flu; 2004: Tsunami. What Next?’. Well, little did the t-shirt producers know…
Read More » - Hua Hin News
China defence minister says Japan bill will ‘complicate’ region
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community China defence minister says Japan bill will ‘complicate’ region Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: China’s defence minister told the head of Japan’s National Security Council on Friday that Japanese legislation which could see troops sent to fight abroad for the first time since World War II…
Read More » - Thai Life
Blazing Saddles: Cycling: Not just for a healthy body
PHUKET: As if burning calories and improving cardiovascular fitness and body strength weren’t enough, a new study shows the brain-boosting benefits of biking, which begs the question: does cycling improve your sanity? I was recently out cycling in the south of Phuket with my usual riding buddies: four enthusiasts who regularly pound the pedals together, followed by just the occasional…
Read More » - Property
Phuket Pads: Nai Harn condo goes big
PHUKET: Nai Harn Beach, which some say is one of the most popular on the island with the nearby lake attracting many tourists and locals who regularly walk or exercise around it, is getting the biggest condo development in the south of the island, due for completion in 2017. This is a much welcomed addition to Nai Harn and the…
Read More » - Business News
Dermatology stakes claim in Thai medical tourism industry
PHUKET: Dermatology is staking its claim in Thailand’s developing medical-tourism sector, a growth which is due in part to an increasing number of highly qualified dermatologists, state-of-the-art treatments and affordable services. Romrawin Clinic, with two of its branches located in Phuket, has taken advantage of the demand for dermatological procedures and is now at the forefront of the business with…
Read More » - Business News
Business Buzz: The beauty of Instagram
HUKET: Instagram as we know it is changing, but that can be a good thing if you are a business looking to increase your exposure. Instagram is a photo-sharing app that reportedly has more than 300 million monthly users. It is very popular with people born in the 80s and 90s, who account for more than 37% per cent of…
Read More » - Phuket News
Busted: Paying gambling debt as drug mule
PHUKET: Two men were caught in Phang Nga attempting to smuggle more than 25,000 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills into Surat Thani on Wednesday. Sophon ‘Khong’ Suwannarat, 37, confessed to police that he had agreed to transport the drugs in order to pay off a 50,000-baht gambling debt, while Paisarn Ratmanee, 40, denied any knowledge of the drugs. “Police were tipped…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket told to conserve power ahead of energy shortage
PHUKET: The Energy Ministry alerted all residents on Phuket to conserve power to prevent outages from July 21 to July 25, as a major gas field supply line in the Gulf of Thailand will be upgraded during this period. Director-General of the Energy Policy and Planning Office Chavalit Pichalai revealed that the country will be losing around 420 million standard…
Read More » - Phuket News
TCT dominates over Phuket Asian Cricket Team
PHUKET: The Outrigger T20 cricket league commenced on Sunday at the Alan Cooke Ground with the Thalang Cricket Team (TCT) having an easy win over the newly formed Phuket Asian Cricket Team (PACT). PACT won the toss and made the unusual decision to field first with their team only having seven players present. The new side, who is representing the…
Read More » - Opinion
Opinion: Uphill safety battles
PHUKET: Accidents happen every day on the island – whether they are caused by drunk driving, running a red light or something else. I argue that the most serious accidents on our island occur during the rainy season on the hills in Patong, Kamala, Surin and Kata. Maybe some of these accidents are caused by ‘slippery roads’, as is often…
Read More » - Phuket News
Proposed sweeping alcohol-sales ban worries Phuket officials
PHUKET: Island officials have expressed concern about an alcohol sales ban expected to take effect next week that will affect all businesses within a 300-meter radius of academic institutions. Despite their concerns, local authorities have noted that they will have to obey and enforce the new regulation, although some believe it will have a negative effect on businesses. “The draft…
Read More » - Thai Life
Health: Dodging bullets with agility
PHUKET: Agility ladders, a staple of sports training when victory can hang on the athlete’s ability to turn quickly, have moved into mainstream gyms where fitness experts say they are helping everyday exercisers be nimble and quick. Jumping, running, marching and hopscotching through the grids on the floor have become an added feature in personal training and group fitness classes.…
Read More » - Phuket News
Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek underway
PHUKET: The Race Management team had a busy few hours looking for wind on day one of the 2015 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek. Motoring around the southeast coast of Phuket, Simon James and his team had to postpone the start as they tracked down the breeze. Despite the storm clouds over the island’s south, the rains held off and…
Read More » - Thai Life
Looking back: Gambling through the decades
PHUKET: Gambling, in all its forms, is illegal in Thailand. But despite the fact that it has been outlawed for several decades, it is still a popular ‘recreation’ for many Thais. Underground gambling dens throughout the country do very well, and casinos, located in towns like Poipet, just over the Cambodian border, are mainly Thai owned and often packed with…
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