Year: 2016
- Phuket News
Phuket Highways Office director bows out
PHUKET: After five years of public service in Phuket, the director of the Phuket Highways Office is bowing out and moving on to Trang. Samak Luedwonghad announced the move on Tuesday, citing official governmental policy that requires public servants to change provincial positions every four years. “I have been in Phuket for five years, and it’s time to move on,”…
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Python greets Krabi highschooler in desk drawer
KRABI: A 17-year-old student received a nasty surprise when she opened her classroom desk to find a one meter-long snake on Monday. The incident went viral on social media, with netizens sharing a picture of the snake inside the student’s drawer. Many urged schools across the province to increase their security and questioned how such a large snake could have…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: ‘Spa’ is not necessarily professional
The Ministry of Farang Affairs is a one-stop shop where foreigners in Thailand can learn all they need to know about living here. No, we’re not talking about work permits, visas or taxes. We’re talking about day-to-day life in the Land of Endless Shocks and Riddles, of Blur, Befuddlement and the Bizarre. Stay tuned for weekly insights from Minister Stephff.…
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Tourism Authority tries to boost female tourism
PHUKET: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is launching a special campaign in August, to attract local and international female travellers to enjoy the kingdom’s many attractions, with a wide range of activities, special offers, discounts and privileges. “We’ve designated August 2016 as a ‘month for women travellers’, in honor of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 84th birthday,” says TAT Governor…
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Tsunami survivor’s tale turned into Regent’s Park stage production
PHUKET: The Regent’s Park Open Air Theater in London staged its largest-ever performance last month, inspired by a true story of resilience, courage and man’s relationship with nature. The play is set during the Indian Ocean tsunami that struck Phuket, and devastated large areas in Southeast Asia more than a decade ago. A cast of more than 50 exceptional young…
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PTT launches campaign to encourage Thais to sort their trash
PHUKET: Gas stations in Phuket could soon be displaying colorful trash bins as part of a nationwide campaign by PTT to urge consumers to sort their waste and dispose of it in the appropriate bins. Dubbed ‘Yak Lak Yim’, the trash-sorting drive is aimed at improving better waste-disposal habits in exchange for funding to assist local communities. Sarun Rungkasiri, Chief…
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Blazing Saddles: When in Phuket, do as Brisbane does
PHUKET: Queensland’s capital city of Brisbane has a population of 2.3 million people, some four times the official figure for Phuket. Yet driving around Brisbane, as I did recently, you could be forgiven for thinking you were in a quiet country town. The traffic flows efficiently and there are rarely any bottlenecks, or congestion, with which to contend. Certainly Brisbane…
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Profile: Jiradech Chittawong – Born with the healing touch
PHUKET: Jiradech Chittawong, or Charlie Arm, as he is better known to his friends, is a physiotherapist from Hat Yai. Just 23 years of age, his clients refer to him as a ‘miracle worker’. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy from the Prince of Songkla University (PSU) Hat Yai Campus two years ago. “I spent my last year…
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Opinion: Importance of responsible publishing
PHUKET: Busaya Jaipiam, 56, is the Phuket Provincial Public Relations Chief. She is originally from Surat Thani, and received a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University. She also obtained a master’s degree in Political Science from the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA). Here, she talks about the media’s – and all citizens’ – responsibilities when…
Read More » - Business News
Biz Chat: Tips for establishing a start-up (part 3)
PHUKET: When it comes to starting your own business, it’s easy to get lost in the details. However, there are a few necessary steps you can’t let fall between the cracks. These are the last three crucial steps (see part 1 here and part 2 here). As a business owner (or prospective owner), you have to obtain the appropriate licences…
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Island View: If it ain’t broke, why fix it?
PHUKET: I have lived and worked in Phuket for quite a few years. I’m sure we all agree that driving on the island is one of the biggest challenges in our daily lives. Getting to work and making your way home each day is a matter of luck and skillful maneuvering, but I am not going to complain about any…
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Business Buzz: The power of groups and forums
PHUKET: One of the biggest business benefits of social media is creating a database of your perfect customers. Just imagine it: people asking to join your customer list, at no cost to you. While most people know all about Facebook fan pages, the ‘groups’ option remains a lesser-known factor. People have also probably heard of forums, but again they are…
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Environmentalists to build ‘love nest’ to breed rare birds
KRABI: The Wildlife Conservation Office plans to build a ‘house of love’ to breed rare birds that were recently discovered in Khaopra-Bangkham forest in Krabi. The birds, known as Gurney’s Pitta, had disappeared for many years prior to the most recent sighting of a female in April and another in May. “We have a male Gurney’s Pitta from the Klong…
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Krabi locals pray to fossil for lottery win
KRABI: Locals prayed over an age-old fossil earlier this week, hoping to receive blessings in the shape of a winning lottery ticket. The fossil was among others discovered when Wutthichai Rodkoom was dredging his land with a backhoe in Khlong Thapsai, Khlong Thom District, in April. Each stone weighed a few hundred kilograms. “I didn’t realize the stones were fossils…
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Water meter thefts on the rise
PHUKET: The Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) is warning islanders of a growing rash of thefts of water meters across the province. The thieves are most likely stealing the meters to sell them, or to exchange them with other meters and defraud the water authority, confirmed PWA Manager Pisak Chonlayut. “We’ve been receiving an increasing number of reports of meters disappearing…
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Palm nut producers feel squeeze, petition governor
KRABI: Palm nut producers in Krabi took a petition to the local Office of Commercial Affairs (OCA) on Wednesday, asking for government assistance in buoying the price of their product. OCA representative Barirak Chusit received requests from palm farmers, who took 10 trucks, carrying 500 tonnes of palm nuts, into the government-run Krabi Palm Oil Extraction facility. Palm farmers in…
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Finance: Runts rally amid mixed earnings season
PHUKET: As of the beginning of May, earnings season was in full swing, with the markets sending mixed messages to investors. So far, some big names like Facebook Inc (NASDAQ: FB) and Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AM- ZN), with the latter sometimes being a difficult stock to own given its ups and downs, have put in good earnings reports and have pretty…
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Country’s young swimming champs compete in Phuket meet
PHUKET: Young swimmers from across the country met to compete in a friendly inter-school contest at Thanyapura on June 11. The swim meet was the fourth session of the Thanyapura Open Swim League at the Olympic-sized swimming pool. Six teams of students aged 5-20 years old competed in various categories from St Gabriel’s College from Bangkok, the ISS Samui Sharks,…
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Opinion: Putting the public’s safety first
PHUKET: Reports of structural damage at the Jungceylon shopping complex in Patong need to be taken seriously to protect shoppers from potential danger, but calls to close down the entire complex indefinitely appear to be unduly alarmist given the situation on the ground – and beneath it. News that support pillars in the basement of the complex were damaged apparently…
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Looking Back: A Brief History of Thong Dee (Part 2)
PHUKET: Picking up from where I left off in part one of the history of Thong Dee, in 1765, the Burmese invaded Siam with the aim of crushing Ayutthaya. King Ekkathat tried desperately to defend his country from the invaders. When Ayutthaya came under siege, the king sent word to Phraya Taksin for assistance. Taksin assessed the situation and believed…
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Rip current warning issued for Kata-Karon
PHUKET: Karon Municipality issued a rip current warning to all swimmers at Kata and Karon beaches yesterday. “Southwest winds are battering the island, causing strong waves, so we are warning beach-goers to be especially careful,” said Karon Mayor Thawee Thongcham. “We advise everyone to avoid swimming for their own safety. However, if anyone decides to enter the water, please follow…
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Across the Land: Property drivers for high season
PHUKET: Who will be the market drivers for property this coming high season in Phuket? Phuket has always been a hotpot mix of nationalities, whether it be the long-term residents, holiday home buyers or tourists. Long-term residents in Phuket basically fall into two broad segments. The first segment tends to be families from the surrounding Asian regions, such as Malaysia,…
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Sea gypsies sue Baron World Trade
PHUKET: More than 200 of Rawai’s sea gypsies are named as plaintiffs in a civil lawsuit against Baron World Trade Co Ltd, for allegedly blocking access to their sacred ceremonial grounds. The lawsuit, which was filed June 13, calls for 500,000 baht in reparations to the community, and is the latest development in the ongoing land feud between the sea…
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Excuse Buster: Effects of cortisol on your body
PHUKET: The hormone cortisol is considered the ‘stress’ hormone because it plays a major role in the function of our body during times of stress. Cortisol is secreted by the adrenal glands. You have probably heard of the term ‘adrenal fatigue’, otherwise known as ‘burnout’, and may have suffered from this common 21st-century condition. Well, this hormone appears to play…
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Phuket Gov joins Rawai Muslims for Iftar
PHUKET: Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada, accompanied by other government officials visited a mosque in the Rawai village of Saiyuan on the evening of June 14. “We’re here to encourage and support local Muslims during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which commemorates the first revelation of the Koran to the Prophet Muhammad, according to Islamic belief,” said Gov Chamroen.…
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Ancient city find in Cambodia rewrites history
CAMBODIA: Multiple, previously undocumented medieval cities not far from the ancient temple city of Angkor Wat have been discovered, The Guardian reported on June 11. The report said that these groundbreaking discoveries may completely change key assumptions about Southeast Asia’s history. Australian archaeologist Dr Damian Evans reportedly used airborne laser scanning technology to reveal the cities, which he dated at…
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Patong police raid knock-off shops
PHUKET: Seven shop owners were arrested in Patong yesterday morning and have been charged with selling pirated goods estimated at 2 million baht in value, police confirmed today. A joint team, led by the Economic Crime Suppression Division 4 (ECD) superintendent Kittisap Thongseewong, raided businesses along Patong’s beach road and OTOP market. “We seized a total 2,072 pirated goods, including…
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Tour company director arrested, another on the run
PHUKET: Police arrested a senior director and shareholder of Tranlee Travel Co Ltd today for allegedly faking two Thai national ID cards used to register the company. Another director is on the run. “Kritchakorn Roongmongkolnam, one of the company directors, surrendered today. The other, named Weerachai Kampaiprapankul, is still on the run,” said Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Saman Chainarong.…
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Murderer on the run after stabbing girlfriend’s lover
PHUKET: One man is dead after being discovered by his lover’s boyfriend on the second floor of the Irawadee condo in Kathu. Wachaya Thepsing, 29, fled to Trang province and alerted police there of the murder of her former lover. Kantang Police then contacted police in Kathu, informing them of Ms Wachaya’s report, said Lt Sawanya Eiattrong of Kathu Police.…
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Ladyboy romp ends with empty wallet
PHUKET: A Thai ladyboy was arrested early yesterday morning, after stealing money from a Singaporean tourist in Patong. Ng Wei Kiat, 31, met Tanakorn Jaiban, 25, on Bangla Road about 3am. “Mr Ng was reportedly interested in Ms Tanakorn, and they both went to have some fun in a hotel room on Phra Metta Road,” said Lt Col Weerapong Rakito…
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Gov urges sustainable building in Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada praised Siam Cement Group’s (SCG) newest building in greater Bangkok, which incorporates the latest design concepts. The governor urged Phuket’s developers to follow suit, during the Phuket & Southern Thailand FM & Green Building Seminar held late last month. SCG, the largest cement supplier in Southeast Asia, moved into its new headquarters on its 100th…
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By the Book: Benefits of professional real estate photography
PHUKET: Professional real estate photography is more essential than ever before, when marketing any type of property for sale. Between 2008 and 2012 real estate searches on Google grew over 253 per cent, with 90 per cent of buyers beginning their searches online (nearly 30 per cent of those using mobile devices). Listings with professional photos generated an average of…
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On Deck: Optimize your boat, not your rating
PHUKET: Wise words from James Dadd, director of the RORC Rating Office, who recently took a detour from his Australia/New Zealand tour to stop over in Samui during the Samui Regatta and talk with sailors and event organizers about the IRC rating system prevalent in this area of the world. “We are cautious in our approach, introducing new ideas over…
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New insurance app aims to make claims hassle free
PHUKET: Claim Di is a new mobile application for facilitating communication and claims between drivers and their insurance companies, so they can complete their own transactions without waiting for a surveyor. The insurance facilitator application was launched in Phuket last week. It is a fully functional outsourced application for insurance services, including immediate claims at the scene without waiting, emergency…
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Opinion: Being a responsible pet owner
PHUKET: Boonsom Roongudom, 59, is a Phuket native. He received a veterinary degree from the Department of Livestock Development (DLD), Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. Mr Boonsom has been working as a veterinarian for the Phuket Municipality since 1980. Here, he talks about the on-going issue of abandoned cats and dogs in Phuket City and outlines his suggestions for a…
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Hungry python captured near Patong school
PHUKET: A three-meter-long python was captured near a school in Patong this morning. The snake was found with its head stuck in netting covering a chicken coop at 9:30am in Soi Phra Barami 6, next to Kalim school. The snake must have been trying to get at the chickens but it was too big to fit through the holes in…
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Safety regulations reviewed after fatal Phi Phi boat collision
PHUKET: Officials from the Phuket Marine Office (PMO) told the Phuket Gazette that the investigation into a fatal speedboat collision in Phang Nga Bay on June 8 (story here), may result in additional regulations for speedboat operators. Tanthai Wongsayree, an officer with the PMO, said that staff are in the process of reviewing the causes of the boat collision, which…
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