Year: 2016
- Phuket News
Phuket foundation passes out free ribbons
PHUKET: The Kusoldharm Foundation is providing free black ribbons to the public, in honor of the passing of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej on October 13. Volunteers with the non-profit organization told the Phuket Gazette today that they’ve made over 1,000 ribbons for mourners, which they are handing out to passers by near the Heroine’s Monument on Thepkrassatri Road. “We wish…
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Another gambling ring busted in Phuket
PHUKET: Twenty two suspected gamblers were arrested in Wichit during a joint police and military raid on Saturday. The raid followed a similar bust in Wichit last week, during which police apprehended 16 suspected gamblers and confiscated more than 130,000 baht in cash as well as gambling paraphernalia (story here). Approximately 30 Wichit Police and Army 41st Military Circle personnel…
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Two more investigated for alleged royal defamation
PHUKET: A man in Mai Khao and a woman on Koh Samui were arrested yesterday after allegedly posting negative comments about royalty on social media. The arrests were catalyzed by mob demonstrations against the alleged commenters. Yesterday morning, a man identified on his Facebook profile as Payak Rai Haeng Nakhon Kor-En allegedly posted negative comments regarding Thailand’s late Monarch. Tah…
Read More » - Phuket News
Tourist guidelines issued for mourning period
PHUKET: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has released new guidelines for tourists coming to visit the Kingdom after the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. A period of national mourning was announced last week, following the death of the world’s longest reigning monarch. The TAT, while still encouraging travel to the country, is cautioning tourists that this mourning…
Read More » - Food
Food: Fusion fare at Wok Pagoda
PHUKET: Located 10 minutes from Chalong Circle along the road to Kata-Karon, Mom Tri’s Wok Pagoda fuses gourmet Western and traditional Thai dishes together over an open-air pavilion. Nestled in the steep slopes of Phuket’s mountainous East-West divide, Wok Pagoda’s vantage captures a nearly 180-degree view of Chalong Bay, Phi Phi island and the carpet of lush terrain rising into…
Read More » - Pattaya News
On Deck: Sailing ignored as a mainstream sport
PHUKET: Bangkok was host to Asia’s Sports Industry Awards & Conference (SPIA Asia) at the beginning of this month. A two-day conference with presentations from leaders in the regional sports industry – IMG, Lagardere, GroupM, Media Pro, Total Sports Asia, TATA Consulting, and many more – discussing the best practices and latest developments within the sports industry, was followed by…
Read More » - Property
Property Watch: Impact of weather on the property market
PHUKET: A lot is said about the negatives and positives of the business and economics of the Phuket property market, but it seems that less is said about the realities of the weather here on our green and often wet island, and how that impacts on property. What is said is often encapsulated in a sugar-coated cloud of positivity –…
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Opinion: Why investing in Phuket makes good sense
PHUKET: Panupong Kritchanarat, originally from Bangkok, is currently the CEO of Boat Pattana, Phuket and has been working with its management for eight years. He also has several years of experience in real estate management. He holds a Masters of Business Administration from the Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration at Chulalongkorn University. Here, he talks about business options in…
Read More » - Business News
Krabi hosts Global Rubber Conference 2016
PHUKET: Experts and industry players from 25 countries met at the Global Rubber Conference 2016 in Krabi on October 11, to discuss the future prospects of the rubber industry in Krabi and all over the world. The two-day conference was held at Deevana Plaza, Ao Nang, and was organized by the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) and Confexhub. “More than…
Read More » - Thai Life
Profile: Rich Cramp – Keeping our beaches clean
PHUKET: Rich Cramp is the Phuket organizer of Trash Hero, an organization dedicated to solving the global garbage problem. He has a degree in English Literature and currently teaches at HeadStart International School in Phuket. He spent part of his childhood in Thailand, before moving to Hong Kong, then Taiwan and finally settling in England. “I moved back to Thailand…
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Island View: Need to celebrate responsibly
PHUKET: The end of the vegetarian festival means different things to different people. While some miss the sights and sounds, others breathe a sigh of relief about the end of the crowds and noise. I have no complaints on either of those counts. I don’t like crowds or noise, so I chose to spend my time safe in the comfort…
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Crowds gather to witness enormous hauls of fish
PHUKET: Local fishermen at Patong showed off their enormous hauls of fish this morning, photos of which went viral on social media. A number of locals gathered at the beach to take a look at the occurrence, which was earlier thought to be unnatural by some. “Local fishermen make their way to this part of the Andaman Sea to catch…
Read More » - Business News
Wicker products a hit with tourists
KRABI: Handmade bamboo and wicker products manufactured by senior citizens have generated much interest from tourists and foreigners in Krabi. The group is now represented under the Krabi One Tambon One Product (OTOP) banner. The project started in 2014 when a team of 14 senior citizens in Khao Kram sub-district decided to learn the craft and manufacture wicker items in…
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Phuket man charged with lese majeste early this morning
PHUKET: A man was charged with lese majeste early this morning after several hundred angry people gathered in front of his shop in Samkong to protest against his negative social media posts regarding His Majesty the King on Thursday. By 8pm last night, about 20 people had gathered in front of Suthee Arammetapong’s soymilk shop looking for him. As users…
Read More » - Business News
Business Buzz: Advent of panoramic photos
PHUKET: While there has been a lot of news in the press recently about Twitter and what is going to happen with the new relaxed 140 character rules, or the Samsung Note 7 exploding with regularity and being banned from all commercial airlines, the interesting news for me is what we can all use to promote our businesses and get…
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Somber Phuketians pay respects to departed King at Provincial Hall
PHUKET: Hundreds of grief-stricken Phuketians in somber attire have been queuing quietly at Phuket Provincial Hall today to take part in a ceremonial anointing of a portrait of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej as well as signing a book of remembrance. During the period of mourning over the coming days and weeks, following yesterday’s announcement of HM King Bhumibol’s passing…
Read More » - Opinion
Opinion: Stick to the legal limit
PHUKET: The light court sentencing against a Thai driver who ran over and killed German national Andreas Walter last year (story here) serves as yet another example of why the police need better training in how to respond and collect evidence at road accident scenes. The late Mr Walter, who was a long-term expat in Phuket, was run over and…
Read More » - Thai Life
Gardening: A flowery conundrum
PHUKET: A good friend of mine once had a roof garden in Phuket, with trellises completely covered in a vigorous climber replete with lush green foliage and masses of golden trumpet-shaped flowers. The growth was so dense that it was home to at least thirty pairs of nesting sun-birds. Its name? That’s easy. Knowledgeable gardeners among you will be saying:…
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No jail time for driver who killed German in road accident
PHUKET: The driver of a car that killed a German man and severely injured his Thai partner in Kata last year will walk away without serving any jail time. The dramatic court case over the death of Andreas Walter and the severe injury of his Thai partner Patcharin Lammai ended on October 6 at Phuket Provincial Court. Jakarin Rodpradit, the…
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Officials to strictly monitor social media activities
PHUKET: Social media users and their activities are under strict scrutiny by authorities following the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej yesterday, Phuket Governor Chokchai Dejamorthan announced today. “We have set up a special team comprising police officers, military personnel and IT staff to keep a close watch on social media,” said Governor Chokchai. “We are on the lookout…
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Phuket entertainment venues shut for weekend
PHUKET: As the Kingdom mourns the loss of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Phuket’s governor today requested that the touristic island’s entertainment venues close over the weekend. “I would like to ask all entertainment venues not to put on performances at least for the next three days,” Governor Chokchai Dejamornthan said. “It’s not an order and we won’t be enforcing it,…
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Falling rubber prices force market shift
KRABI: The Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) announced on Wednesday that the Kingdom will target Indian and Middle-Eastern markets in an effort to bolster Thailand’s share of the rubber commodities market. Titus Suksaard, the governor of RAOT, laid out plans at the Global Rubber Conference in Krabi, which was attended by rubber producers, traders and experts from Thailand and 25…
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Bangla falls silent to mourn the passing of His Majesty
PHUKET: Entertainment venues in Phuket fell silent last night as a sign of mourning for the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej at 3:52 pm yesterday. Bars and nightclub owners in Bangla, Patong turned off their music and instead lit up candles at their venues to pay tribute to His Majesty. A similar show of grief could be seen…
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Phuket Governor urges officials, public to abide by PM’s declaration
PHUKET: As Thailand enters a period of mourning following yesterday’s announcement from the Bureau of the Royal Household that His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej passed away at 3:52pm, Phuket Governor Chokchai Dejamorthan expressed his deepest condolences and ordered officials to strictly abide by a declaration issued by the Prime Minister’s office. In a televised announcement yesterday evening, Prime Minister Gen…
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Nation weeps over His Majesty’s departure
PHUKET: His Majesty the King has passed away this afternoon, the Royal Household Bureau has now confirmed. The bureau said that His Majesty died at 3:52pm, at the age of 89. His Majesty had been hospitalized for years.
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Phuket police commemorate Royal Thai Police National Day
PHUKET: Phuket Police officers marked ‘Royal Thai Police National Day’ today. Hundreds of Phuket police officers joined the event, which is part of nationwide celebrations to honor the force. The ceremony was held at the Phuket Provincial Police Headquarters in Phuket Town. The celebrations started with a Buddhist blessing before the official ceremony, led by Phuket Provincial Police Commander Teeraphol…
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Teens arrested for bypass stabbings, robberies
PHUKET: Four motorists were stabbed within 20 minutes of each other during a drunken robbery spree by two 17-year-olds in the early hours of yesterday morning. The two suspects used a motorbike to rob and stab victims in Phuket Town. Another robbery, without a reported stabbing, in Thalang is also being attributed to the suspects. The first victim, 21-year-old Suraya…
Read More » - Thailand News
Bulletin issued on HM the King’s health
BANGKOK: The Bureau of the Royal Household has indicated His Majesty the King’s condition remains unstable and under close monitoring. In its 38th statement issued on the condition of HM the King, the Bureau of the Royal Household indicated that the team of doctors providing treatment to His Majesty on Tuesday diagnosed a further drop in his blood pressure, a…
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Drunk American attacks vehicles on Thepkrasattri
PHUKET: An intoxicated American man was arrested for throwing bottles at vehicles and running in and out of traffic on the northbound Thepkrasattri Road in the early hours of yesterday morning. Tah Chat Chai Police charged thirty-eight year-old Stephen Leonard with drunk and disorderly conduct and damaging property . He was fined 200 baht. Mr Leonard allegedly smashed the window…
Read More » - Thai Life
Blazing Saddles: The bias against e-bikes
PHUKET: Like many cycling enthusiasts, I have long held a prejudice against electric bicycles. Somehow the whole idea of adding a motor of any kind into the primal equation of man, muscle and machine seemed just plain wrong and indeed a bit akin to cheating. Surely the whole concept of the bicycle is of a wonderful enhancement of man’s ability…
Read More » - Cannabis News
Checkpoint nets nearly 100kg of marijuana
PHUKET: Tah Chat Chai police officers seized nearly 100 kilograms of marijuana at Phuket’s northern checkpoint on Tuesday. Col Prawit Suttiruengarun told the Phuket Gazette that the police arrested a Trang man after ordering the vehicle to stop for a routine search. The man, who police have identified as 37-year-old Annop Dueramare, reportedly attempted to drive away after the officers…
Read More » - Property
The billion dollar behemoth stirs
PHUKET: For the most part, the booming tourist high season at the start of 2016 was a challenge for the island’s luxury real estate sector, as there was no domino effect. Instead, the villa market went stone cold. As we edge towards yet another winter peak high season though, the question for the property market is, “what does the future…
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Opinion: Gov Chokchai outlines his plans for Phuket
PHUKET: On his first day as new Phuket Governor, Dr Chokchai Dejamorthan promised to deal with bad driving in the province and strategize Phuket’s path to smart city status. Originally from Chachoengsao, he holds a doctorate in philosophy from the Christian University of Thailand, a master’s in Social Development from the National Institute of Development Administration, and a bachelor’s degree…
Read More » - Phuket News
New drunk-driving law would punish families
PHUKET: Provincial officials told the Phuket Gazette on October 7 that they are prepared to support and enforce a new law that would punish the families of drunk drivers, should the legislation be approved by Thailand’s Cabinet. Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith is behind the proposed new law aimed at cracking down on the number of drunk driving accidents, deaths and…
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Drive-by road rage shooting suspect arrested
PHUKET: Sakoo Police yesterday arrested a Thai man who critically injured another man in a road rage-fueled drive-by shooting on Thursday. The 23-year-old suspect, Pawarut Thepabutra, told police that he left his house about 5am on the morning of the incident with his girlfriend to join a Vegetarian Festival parade at Bang Neow Shrine in Phuket Town but then went…
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New team pledges allegiance to Phuket Governor
PHUKET: Phuket’s three new vice governors officially assumed their duties yesterday morning. The Interior Ministry announced the appointments of Sanit Sriwihok, Theera Anantasereewittaya and Siwaporn Chuasawat last week (story here). The V/Govs officially reported to Phuket Governor Dr Chokchai Dejamornthan, who arrived on September 30 to take up his post here on October 1, at Provincial Hall. The new team…
Read More » - Business News
Biz leaders make French connection
PHUKET: Phuket’s tourism industry leaders are banking on boosting the number of foreign visitors to the province by about 20 per cent during the year-end high season by attracting more French tourists. Local hoteliers, tour operators and agencies are hopeful of a new influx of French nationals after a string of successful roadshows in Nice, Lyon and Paris, from September…
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