Month: August 2015

  • Phuket News

    Karon Plaza blaze guts ten shops

    PHUKET: Police are investigating the cause of a blaze at Karon Plaza that engulfed 10 shops along the Karon beachfront road last night. Five firetrucks from Karon and Patong were called to the scene at about 11:50. It took firefighters about 40 minutes to extinguish the flames. “Luckily, the stores were closed and nobody was injured,” said Lt Weerayuth Thansirisukhaworakul…

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  • Phuket News

    30kg python caught with mouth full

    PHUKET: A 30 kilogram python was caught midway through gobbling up a chicken in Phuket earlier this week. “It was about 2am when we woke to the sound of our chickens causing a ruckus,” Wisit Powikit told the Phuket Gazette. “It was strange, so I went to investigate.” Mr Wisit owns about 10 chickens that he keeps in a henhouse…

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  • Phuket News

    Budget peddles out cash for bike lanes

    PHUKET: Work on Phuket’s eagerly awaited bike lanes will start in October with an already approved budget of more than 50 million baht, confirmed Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong. “Over 30 million baht from the 2016 fiscal year budget has been approved for the development of Bang Wad Reservoir, which will include the installation of bike lanes,” said Governor Nisit. “We…

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  • Phuket News

    Calling all Phuket hotel beauties and footballers

    PHUKET: Phuket Football Club (Phuket FC) will be holding their second Hotel Cup competition and first ever Miss Hotel competition next month at the Republic Phuket football field in Chalong. “The main purpose of organizing this event is to support the strong cooperation and friendship between all hotel businesses in Phuket through sport. Hotel employees can relax from work and…

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  • Phuket News

    Rescue foundation helps island’s poorest

    PHUKET: More than 1,500 of Phuket’s poorest people showed up at the Kusoldharm Foundation’s headquarters yesterday afternoon to receive donations of food and clothing as part of the annual Te Krajard merit-making ceremony. “This year, we handed out rice to needy students from 30 local schools and gave each school a 250-kilogram sack of rice. Additionally, clothes and packages of…

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  • Thai Life

    Phuket International Women’s Club gives away B2mn in scholarships

    PHUKET: The Phuket International Women’s Club (PIWC) will reached out to yet another flock of young minds with more than 2 million baht worth of scholarships on August 19. “We want to give a better future to students in financial need. We work closely with schools, colleges and universities as we move through the selection process,” said PIWC Scholarships Chairman…

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  • Phuket News

    Fireboat bound for Phuket following death of 12-year-old

    PHUKET: The island’s first ever fireboat is coming soon, confirmed Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong. The announcement follows the death of a 12-year-old tourist on passenger ferry Ao Nang Princess 5, which burst into flames as it was headed to Phuket in April (story here and here). More than 80 passengers and five crew were safely evacuated from a ferry. However,…

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  • Thai Life

    Blazing Saddles: Better biking with Olympian Nick Gates

    PHUKET: At the end of 2014, Thanyapura Phuket launched their Cycling Academy headed up by former Olympian and Tour de France star Nick Gates. Nick hails from Sydney and has over 15 years of experience in pro-mountain bike, adventure, track and road racing. He twice competed in the Tour de France for the Lotto-Domo team and has won the Commonwealth…

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  • Phuket News

    New 1,000-baht note on streets tomorrow

    PHUKET: A new 1,000-baht banknote will be available at commercial banks in Phuket and throughout the country tomorrow, Bank of Thailand Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul revealed on Monday. “The 1,000 baht banknote ‘Series 16’ will enter circulation on August 21. The design is to glorify His Majesty King Chulalongkorn for his incomparable contributions to the country,” Mr Prasarn said. The new…

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  • World NewsMore than 1,000 children killed, injured in Yemen | Thaiger

    More than 1,000 children killed, injured in Yemen

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community More than 1,000 children killed, injured in “brutal” Yemen conflict – U.N. Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Months of brutal conflict in Yemen have killed or injured more than 1,000 children, and the number of young people recruited or used as fighters has soared, the United…

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  • Thailand NewsGroom gives bride a coffin | Thaiger

    Groom gives bride a coffin

    PHUKET: The cliche for weddings around the world is that ‘diamonds are forever’. However, the Thai groom from Loei Province had a different wedding gift idea that would be ‘forever’ – a coffin. Yes, a man named only as ‘Diao’ by Kapook.com dug in deep for a coffin for his bride-to-be for what he thought would be a valuable, lasting…

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  • Property

    Phuket pads: Modern architectural masterpiece

    PHUKET: Loch Palm Golf Course’s five-bedroom villa has got to be the most unique and unusual property in Phuket, breaking every design and construction norm. Architecturally, the conceptual inspiration was drawn from the site and situation. Located on the edge of the Loch Palm reservoir and golf course, the site is positioned between two geometrically flat, level surfaces and is…

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  • Bangkok News

    Opinion: Love for Bangkok unshaken

    PHUKET: Last night I was three blocks away from the tragic bomb blast at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok. Like so many nights when I am in the capital city, I stay at a nearby hotel and walk around that same corner to capture the unique flavor of a truly special place. Call it routine or else a beckoning call…

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  • Phuket News

    Tourism industry braces for bombing aftermath

    PHUKET: The fatal bombing near a tourism attraction in the heart of Bangkok will have an impact on Phuket’s tourism industry, experts told the Phuket Gazette today. “The situation obviously affects tourism. Within three hours of the explosion, English, American and French Embassies had already sent out warnings to their citizens in Thailand. Within one hour, international television channels reported…

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  • Phuket News

    Dirty Digs: Navy unearths nine illegal excavators

    PHUKET: A Royal Thai Navy raid dug up nine men working at an illegal excavation site that local Phuket officials are allegedly involved in. “The men were arrested on two different Mai Khao plots of land that have unclear borders that are most likely overlapping with preserved forest land,” said Lt Sompop Kamkana of the Royal Thai Navy. “Additionally, one…

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  • Phuket News

    A decade ago: The murder of Debra O’Hanlon dominated the news

    PHUKET: A picture of the smiling 31-year-old and her boyfriend at the time – the confessed killer – was page one of the August 13-19 issue of the Phuket Gazette. In hindsight, it is hard not to find yourself searching their eyes and faces for some hint of what was going to come during their time on this paradise island.…

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  • Bangkok News

    Phuket increases security following Bangkok bombing

    PHUKET: Governor Nisit Jansomwong this morning urged Phuket residents and tourists not to panic about the devastating bombing of a tourist destination in Bangkok that killed at least 20 people and injured more than 100 last night. “We have boosted security throughout the island. There is no need to be afraid,” Governor Nisit told the Phuket Gazette. “We are increasing…

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  • Bangkok News

    Five reported dead in Bangkok bombing

    BANGKOK: A bomb exploded in the center of Bangkok today, police said. The media has reported five people were killed and 20 wounded. The blast, near a shrine at a major Bangkok intersection, was caused by a bomb, police chief Prawut Thawornsiri said.

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  • Opinion

    Phuket’s aspirations call for new projects

    Nisit Jansomwong, 52, from Ratchaburi, landed on the island in October to take up the position of Phuket Governor. He has a master’s degree in administration from Chulalongkorn University, where he graduated with honors. Before coming to Phuket, Governor Nisit was governor of Ratchaburi province for a year. Governor Nisit is pushing mega infrastructure projects in Phuket in order to…

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  • Thai Life

    Hacking density laws with mixology

    PHUKET: Tom Auttayatamavittaya, also known as Tom Funk, won first place in Thailand, top ten in Asia Pacific and 49th in a galaxy of 8,500 contenders at the bartending competition Bols Around the World 2015. He recently moved house, so to speak, from Yaowarat Road in Phuket Town to a bigger venue on Phang Nga Road, and is now defying…

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  • Phuket News

    Video Report: “Bike for Mom’ sets Guinness World Record

    PHUKET: People on Phuket, and throughout Thailand, smashed the Guinness World Record for most cyclists riding at the same time yesterday with the ‘Bike for Mom’ event honoring HM Queen Sirikit’s 83rd birthday. The event set the record with 146,000 ‘eligible’ cyclists riding at the same time, which more than doubled the previous record set by Taiwan. The recorded-breaking event…

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  • Phuket News

    Men rescue cobra from fishing net

    PHUKET: Ruam Jai Foundation rescue workers carefully untangled a two-meter-long cobra from a discarded fishing net in Chalong this morning. “A Myanmar worker found the cobra ensnared in the net near the bathroom of the worker camp on Soi Palai,” said Sayan Thammapan, Ruam Jai Rescue Foundation team leader. “He was on the way to the bathroom when he stumbled…

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  • Business News

    Boat Lagoon prepared for community boom (video)

    PHUKET: Boat Arcade will continue to focus on children’s activities and their needs in the second phase of the project, following the recent completion of the first phase, where the area has been developed as the ‘East Coast Edutainment and Family Center,’ confirmed Kanittha Prasopsirikul, managing director of ‘By Kanittha’ Company and Boat Arcade’s public relations representative. The marketing strategy…

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  • Phuket News

    Woman drowns at Patong Beach

    PHUKET: A Myanmar national drowned at Patong Beach after locals were unable to stop her from running into the water last night. Thi Da, 38, had allegedly told her employer that she was in debt and was contemplating jumping into the sea, Maj Pathapee Srichai of the Patong Police told the Gazette. “People in the area saw Ms Thi Da…

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  • Opinion

    Opinion: I write for the trees

    PHUKET: Construction is underway for the much anticipated and loathed underpass at the Bang Khu intersection with cranes in full swing and excavators making their rounds on what little patches of green are still left. While sitting at the red light recently, I was daydreaming of the beautiful new home that all the little shrubs, flowers and bushes would be…

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  • Property

    Going up: Baba’s five-bedroom villas

    PHUKET: Kicking into gear on Na Tai Beach, across the bridge in Phang Nga, is Charn Issara Development PLC’s riveting joint-venture project Baba Beach Club. The sales gallery has now been built and construction crews are busy building five-bedroom villas. Vorasit ‘Wan’ Issara, managing director of Sri Panwa resort, said that Charn Issara, which is developing the 42-rai project with…

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  • Phuket News

    Phuket slasher vandalizes more than 50 vehicles

    PHUKET: Police apprehended a suspect for allegedly vandalizing more than 50 vehicles in the Thalang National Housing Village yesterday. Sunthorn Somkhan, 31, from Rawai, was found with a sharp knife in the area after police began a search. “Witnesses said the man would stop at a vehicle and start slashing tyres, seats and even smashing windows,” said Lt Wichote Meepop…

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  • Phuket News

    Lifeguards rescue Russian from deadly seas

    PHUKET: A 24-year-old Russian tourist was rescued from a no-swimming zone at Surin Beach by lifeguards on Saturday evening. “We had some swim zones set up for tourist to enjoy. However, other areas, such as the one the Russian was in, were marked off with red flags,” Surin Beach Chief Lifeguard Viroon Chuasaman told the Phuket Gazette today. “There was…

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  • World NewsIndonesia police say aircraft debris spotted in Papua | Thaiger

    Indonesia police say aircraft debris spotted in Papua

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Indonesia police say aircraft debris spotted in Papua Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: An Indonesian search and rescue plane reported spotting debris in Papua province on Monday believed to be from a crashed aircraft with 54 people on board, the local police chief said. The debris…

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  • Phuket News

    Hungry Ghost Festival to begin

    PHUKET: Phuket’s traditional Chinese Por Tor, also known as the annual Hungry Ghost Festival, is set to start on August 26. It is believed that the spirits of ancestors visit their relatives for 15 days during the ninth month of the Chinese calendar. Believers will prepare food for the spirits in order to express their gratitude for their ancestors, said…

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  • Phuket News

    Swiss national dies at Nai Harn Beach

    PHUKET: A 71-year-old Swiss national died while swimming at Nai Harn Beach yesterday morning. Ernst Krummenacher had gone out for a swim before lifeguards had arrived at the beach, explained Maj Patiwat Yodkwan of the Chalong Police. “Mrs Krummenacher said that her husband started calling for help shortly after entering the water. She and friends hurried to help him and…

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  • Business News

    Business Buzz: Better profits via social media

    PHUKET: When trying to increase profitability it is best to ascertain a company’s sales funnel, break it down into a process map and then analyze each of the sales procedures to see where the good and bad results are, as this will help in working out the changes needed to increase revenue in each area. Even a small tweak improving…

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  • Business News

    Finance: Time to reinvest in bank stocks, ETFs

    PHUKET: Bond yield curves have grown steeper and this means it is a good time to take a closer look at investing in bank stocks or bank ETFs, but risk-adverse investors will still need to be selective when choosing what to invest in. STEEPER CURVES ARE GOOD FOR BANKS To begin with some investing basics, short-term interest rates are set…

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  • Phuket News

    Turkish tourist busted with 99 fake bank cards

    PHUKET: Krabi Police arrested a Turkish tourist and a Thai woman for the possession of 99 fake ATM cards in Krabi Town yesterday. Teke Onur Mustarfa, 36, and Kanitha Saramee, 45, have both denied the charges of making and using fake bank cards. “We received a tip-off from Siam Commercial Bank about suspicious withdrawals,” Krabi Provincial Police Deputy Commander Boontawee…

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  • Phuket News

    Phuket “debt settlers’ found with grenade

    PHUKET: Three people were charged for the possession of a M65 grenade following their return from ‘clearing up’ a debt problem at a karaoke in Srisoonthorn. Officers searched the vehicle after flagging it as suspicious when it approached a checkpoint just south of Tesco Thalang at about 1:30am yesterday. “The vehicle suddenly slowed down before reaching the checkpoint, which seemed…

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  • Hua Hin NewsChina investigates cause of blasts at Tianjin port | Thaiger

    China investigates cause of blasts at Tianjin port

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community China investigates cause of blasts at Tianjin port, firms assess damage Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Investigators are searching for clues to identify what caused two huge explosions at a warehouse used to store toxic chemicals and gas at a busy port in northeast China, as…

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  • Phuket News

    Missing Korean found dead at sea

    PHUKET: Phuket Marine Police recovered the body of a Korean tourist yesterday afternoon. The tourist went missing in the heavy surf off Kata Noi Beach, which had been marked a no-swim zone by red flags, on Wednesday (story here). “We received a report at about 3pm from a dive boat saying that they had found a body floating near Koh…

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