Month: January 2016
- Opinion
Opinion: Taking Patong to greater heights
Chalermluck Kebsup is a native of Phuket and has served as the mayor of Patong since May 2014. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Law at Ramkhamhaeng University and received her master’s in Political Science at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University. Here she talks about the problems Patong faces due to the limited availability of area for development and how…
Read More » - Opinion
Island View: Fear may save more lives
PHUKET: As disheartening as it is to see our hopes of having zero deaths on the roads dashed during the ‘Seven Days of Danger’ road-safety campaign this year, the reality of the situation is that the goal is so unreasonable that officials are simply setting themselves up for failure. Last year, there was a total of 108 road deaths in…
Read More » - Pattaya News
On Deck: When only a fraction is enough
PHUKET: What happened to fractional boat ownership? In the not-too-distant past, shared ownership of boats seemed to be the ‘thing’. A great way to introduce non-boaters into boating, and then retaining leisure boaters, with a cost-effective form of ownership. A panacea. In Phuket the concept caught on, but was short-lived. Early pioneers included Simon James, Royal Phuket Marina and Twinpalms,…
Read More » - Opinion
Opinion: Phuket, drive defensively
PHUKET: Despite some positive developments with law enforcement, the sobering results of this year’s ‘Seven Days of Danger road-safety campaign shows that Phuket still has a long way to go before the island’s road safety is at an international standard befitting a world-class tourist destination. The introduction of more proactive law enforcement measures to catch motorists for moving violations is…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket Gateway to get some much-needed love
PHUKET: The dilapidated, mostly ignored Phuket Gateway in Mai Khao is slated for a facelift, confirmed officials. “The renovation is necessary to make the site more attractive, so that it becomes a popular stopping point for tourists on the island,” said Phuket Vice Governor Prajiad Aksornthammakul. The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) started building the Phuket Gateway, just before the…
Read More » - Phuket News
Speedboat driver charged for death of French snorkeller
KRABI: The speedboat driver who killed a French snorkeller in Krabi on Tuesday has been charged with reckless driving causing death, confirmed Maj Sophon Kongthong of the Krabi City Police. “Yothin Suebsak is currently out on bail while we collect additional evidence to be handed over to the public prosecutor,” said Maj Sophon. Sylvie Thiebau, 52, was snorkelling off Koh…
Read More » - Phuket News
Krabi man dies collecting snails
PHUKET: A Krabi man died while collecting snails with a friend on Wednesday Suthep Inthanu, 38, was recovered from Klongthom Pond by rescue workers with a bag full of river snails, which are often collected for personal consumption or to be sold at local markets. “Our investigation revealed that Mr Suthep and his friend Dolmard Wangsop, 46, were diving at…
Read More » - Phuket News
Underage Phuket jet-ski rentals under fire
PHUKET: Concerns about operators allowing minors to rent out jet-skis in Phuket were raised at the monthly consulate meeting with the Governor on Wednesday. Seven Smulders, the Dutch honorary consul for Phuket, told meeting members that he was worried about the potentially dangerous situations created by allowing minors to operate jet-skis. Mr Smulders’ concerns come fast on the heels of…
Read More » - Thai Life
Gardening: Choosing the right insecticide
PHUKET: A good friend, Graham, an airline captain, asks “Can you recommend an all-round weed-killer, not for the garden but for the grass and weeds out in the road by my house?” He adds: “For the last two months, we have fed the pretty caterpillar population (green with blue eyes) and love the butterflies into which they develop, but we…
Read More » - Business News
Business Buzz: How much is a “like’ worth?
PHUKET: A ‘like’ is a measure on Facebook of how popular a page or a post is with other Facebook users. Someone recently asked me what a ‘like’ on Facebook was worth to a business. It started me thinking, could an actual value be placed on a ‘like’? The answer of course is yes, but for each business this value…
Read More » - Business News
Finance: The ‘not so sexy’ New Year’s resolution
PHUKET: Many people like to make New Year’s resolutions, and the most common ones tend to deal with health. Sadly, most people do not stick with their resolutions for very long, and I will get to one of the main reasons for this in a bit, as well as how to avoid falling into this trap. But let’s consider a…
Read More » - Food
Fusion food gets down in town at Surf & Turf
PHUKET: December ushered in a new air of excitement to the island. The start of the holiday season brought the streets to an even busier bustle, as did the large number of arrivals at Phuket International Airport. Along with those arrivals was the appearance of new shops and restaurants open and ready to please the hungriest of patrons for the…
Read More » - Phuket News
Full Metal Dojo ready to kick off at Seduction nightclub
PHUKET: Thailand’s leading Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion, Full Metal Dojo (FMD), is returning to the island with its 8th event ‘FMD8: Return of the Mack’ on January 10 at Seduction nightclub in Patong. After launching its first two events in Phuket in 2014 (story here), FMD moved to Bangkok and has now returned to the Pearl of the Andaman,…
Read More » - Phuket News
Navy conducts SAREX on Patong Beach
PHUKET: A Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) was conducted at Loma Park on Patong Beach yesterday by the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command. The SAREX featured air and sea rescue drills, as well as exhibitions on maritime safety. Demonstrations and reenactments performed as part of the training were meant to emulate real-life maritime accidents, giving officers the opportunity to…
Read More » - Phuket News
Brothers arrested for role in Thalang Police Station riot
PHUKET: Officials arrested two additional suspects yesterday, wanted in connection with October’s Thalang Police Station riot that saw more than 6 million baht worth of damage to the station and nearby vehicles (story here). Brothers Manop Promkaew, 30, and Manit Promkaew, 27, were apprehended at their home in Thalang after police began to pursue 83 unserved riot-related arrest warrants issued…
Read More » - Phuket News
DDPM reports additional death during road-safety campaign
PHUKET: Despite the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Phuket Office’s closing statistic of six road fatalities during the recent ‘Seven Days of Danger’ road-safety campaign (story here), last-minute data has forced them into a correction to their information, adding one more death to this year’s total. The December 31 death of Jordanian Yazeed Munieb Mustafa, 28, was not…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket serial thief arrested – again
PHUKET: Police arrested a serial thief on Tuesday after footage of his escapades was caught on several of his victims’ personal CCTV cameras in Phuket Town. Chatchai Klanpakdee, 26, was tracked down to his rental room in Cherng Talay where he was found in possession of eight notebook computers, an electric guitar and clothes worn during the crimes. “Mr Chatchai…
Read More » - Phuket News
Russian expat found dead in Nai Harn hotel room
PHUKET: A Russian expat was found dead in his hotel room in Nai Harn yesterday morning, with a head wound he had reportedly received two days earlier. Alexander Sharkova, 47, was found by his wife, Marina Sharkova, when she came to pick him up to go to the hospital. Ms Sharkova told officers that on Monday her husband had informed…
Read More » - Phuket News
Island readies for annual Children’s Day
PHUKET: Prepare for the hustle and bustle of a day full of entertainment and fun activities as Phuket celebrates Children’s Day this Saturday. The first Children’s Day in Thailand was in 1956, since then government leaders have annually branded the event with a slogan. This year, the slogan created by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is ‘knowledge and virtue together…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket Red Cross Fair grand prize winner yet to claim Toyota Vios
PHUKET: The winner of the Phuket Red Cross Fair lucky draw grand prize has yet to claim their Toyota Vios after the winning ticket was announced on January 4. Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada, along with his wife Vassana Tipayapongtada, president of the Phuket Red Cross, led the lucky draw center stage at Saphan Hin at about 11:00pm, closing the annual…
Read More » - Phuket News
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Drunk restaurant patrons beat down by waiters in parking lot [video]
PHUKET: A group of waiters have turned themselves in to police today after a video of them brutally beating three restaurant patrons went viral on the popular ‘Youlike’ Facebook page. Four staff members of the Baan See Khao restaurant in Phuket Town were filmed kicking and punching three men to the ground outside of the establishment on Sunday evening. Police…
Read More » - Phuket News
Charges yet to be filed against killer speedboat driver
PHUKET: Police have yet to press charges against the speedboat driver who killed a French snorkeller in Krabi yesterday afternoon. Yothin Suebsak, 29, and Myanmar national Maling El @ Aee, 29, who were working on the speedboat at the time of the accident are to be questioned further in Krabi, confirmed Maj Jarun Nabphet of the Krabi City Police. “I…
Read More » - World News
Malaysia Airlines bans checked baggage on some Europe flights
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Malaysia Airlines bans checked baggage on some Europe flights Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Malaysia Airlines said yesterday it has temporarily banned checked-in baggage on some flights to Europe because of “unreasonably strong head winds” on the longer routes it is having to take for safety…
Read More » - World News
Twitter considering 10,000-character limit for tweets
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Twitter considering 10,000-character limit for tweets Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Twitter Inc (TWTR.N) is building a new feature that will allow users to post tweets as long as 10,000 characters, well beyond its current 140-character limit, technology news website Re/code reported on Tuesday. An expansion…
Read More » - World News
Earthquake reported near North Korea nuclear test site, possibly man-made
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Earthquake reported near North Korea nuclear test site, possibly man-made Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: An earthquake that appears to have been man-made near a known nuclear testing site in North Korea was detected by several monitoring agencies today. The United States Geological Service reported a…
Read More » - Phuket News
Road-raging Krabi van driver surrenders [video]
KRABI: A Krabi van driver surrendered himself to police this morning after a video clip of him driving erratically and attacking a foreigner on a motorbike went viral on social media this week. The video shows van driver Pornthep Petsut, 32, shouting from his vehicle at a motorbike driver and attempting to cut him off before stopping the van to…
Read More » - Phuket News
Finnish teen injured in Phuket jet-ski accident
PHUKET: A 16-year-old Finnish tourist was injured in a jet-ski accident with his father on Kata Beach yesterday. “Akseli Elias injured his leg in the crash. We administered first aid before he was taken to Phuket International Hospital,” Kata-Karon Chief Lifeguard Uten Singsom told the Phuket Gazette. Hospital employees declined to reveal the extent of the injuries. Last week, news…
Read More » - Phuket News
Speedboat driver kills snorkelling French tourist
PHUKET: A French tourist was killed while snorkelling south of Poda Island in Krabi after she was struck in the head by a speedboat propeller this afternoon. “We were informed of the incident at about 3pm. The speedboat driver fled to Phuket after the accident,” Phuket Marine Police Chief Panya Chaichana told the Phuket Gazette. Krabi Marine Police transported the…
Read More » - Phuket News
Teen dies kayaking in Phuket
PHUKET: One man died while kayaking with two friends in the Tah Jeen Canal in Phuket today. Unable to swim, 18-year-old Charnis Kilngklip died after his kayak began taking on water and sank. “One of Mr Charnis’s friends, 17-year-old ‘Chai’, told us that all three of them were in the same kayak when it flipped,” said Lt Col Suchart Meelampong…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket road-deaths triple during 2015/16 safety campaign
PHUKET: The ‘Seven Days of Danger’ road-safety campaign closed at midnight yesterday with a total of six deaths and 75 injuries. Though the goal, like last year, was set at zero deaths, there were three times as many people killed on Phuket’s roads this year and a 67 per cent increase in injuries. The last fatality during the campaign was…
Read More » - Phuket News
Former Air Force officer busted smuggling drugs through airport
PHUKET: A former Royal Thai Air Force officer was arrested at Phuket International Airport on Sunday, as she attempted to smuggle ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) from Bangkok to Phuket. Chutima Somboonrit, 29, was arrested with about 40 grams of ya ice and drug paraphernalia at about 7:30pm, confirmed Lt Col Prawit Engchuan of the Phuket Provincial Police. “We received a…
Read More » - World News
Acadia to buy celebrity rehab center The Priory
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Acadia to buy celebrity rehab center The Priory Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Acadia Healthcare Co Inc has agreed to buy Priory Group, a mental health care provider known for its celebrity client list, for nearly $850 million, its biggest acquisition yet as it expands in…
Read More » - World News
Volkswagen faces billions in penalties as U.S. sues for environment violations
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Volkswagen faces billions in penalties as U.S. sues for environment violations Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: The U.S. Justice Department on Monday filed a civil lawsuit against Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) for allegedly violating the Clean Air Act by installing illegal devices to impair emission control systems…
Read More » - World News
Ukraine utility cyber attack wider than reported
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ukraine utility cyber attack wider than reported Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A central European security software firm said on Monday that a cyber attack last month in Ukraine was broader than initially reported last week when the nation’s secret police blamed a power outage on…
Read More » - Phuket News
Latvian busted making off with lavish loot
PHUKET: Police arrested a Latvian man yesterday for stealing luxury accessories worth more than 2.5 million baht from a shopping mall in Phuket over the weekend. Kristaps Kosogovs, 29, was apprehended at his Rawai hotel room after police were able to track him down using CCTV footage, confirmed Tourist Police Chief Urumporn Koondejsumrit. “When we arrived at his hotel, he…
Read More » - Phuket News
Key agencies to collaborate to setup new investment institute
PHUKET: Key officials and industry leaders have initiated the development of an investment institute in Phuket in order to aid those looking to investment on the island. “Phuket already has a Board of Investment (BOI) to guide investors about matters of private and public investments. However, in the past, investors have often been bogged down due to limited understanding of…
Read More » - Property
Sansiri launches Baan Mai Khao development
PHUKET: Sansiri Public Company Limited has officially launched its recently completed Baan Mai Khao beachfront condominium development. The development includes 206 ready-to-move-in units with up to three bedrooms, including single units, duplexes and penthouses, explained Uthai Uthaisangsuk, senior executive vice president at Sansiri. Prices start from 13.5 million baht with a guaranteed yield of six percent for two years. Baan…
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