Month: January 2017
- Phuket News
Italian man killed on Phuket road bend
PHUKET: An Italian man was killed after his motorbike crashed into a roadside barrier while he was heading toward Promthep Cape this afternoon. Lt Col Thada Sodarat of Chalong Police received the report at about 12:30pm. “The victim’s body was lying on the side of the Nai Harn-Laem Promthep Hill road and a Yamaha motorbike was wedged under the barrier.…
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Suspected OD victim found in Phuket Town
PHUKET: Police believe a drug overdose may be the cause of death of a Myanmar man whose body was found outside a Phuket Town hostel this morning with drug paraphernalia nearby and a white power in his shirt pocket. Police are now testing the white powder and investigating the cause of death. “We received the report at about 8am and…
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Blood test for Lucky the elephant goes awry
PHUKET: An agitated elephant injured two people and damaged two vehicles while officers were drawing his blood as part of a general health and DNA check on Saturday. A total of 219 elephants were given blood tests at Nakkerd Hills camps by officers from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), who are currently investigating elephant trafficking…
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Pick-up stuck after drunk Phuket man drives onto beach
PHUKET: Rescue workers spent more than seven hours freeing a pick-up truck from the sands of Bang Tao Beach yesterday morning. The owner of the Isuzu pick-up, Supot Muthina, 32, reported his predicament to Cherng Talay Police at about 8am. He said that he had gotten drunk about 3am and decided to drive to the beach to listen to some…
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Phuket tuk-tuk driver injured after crashing into police box
PHUKET: A tuk-tuk driver sustained serious injuries after crashing into a police box situated atop a median in Kathu this morning. The accident occurred at about 8am near the Kathu-Patong junction, on the way down from Patong Hill. The driver had no identification documents with him, but police believe his name is Faad Yayi, aged between 70-80 years. They also…
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Keep It Green: Opening the floodgates to a watery embrace
PHUKET: Southern Thailand has recently been in the watery embrace of floods that are unprecedented in their severity. A few statistics to clarify the situation: the inundation has affected 13 provinces in Southern Thailand, with Songkhla being the worst hit – 14 out of 16 districts have been declared disaster areas. There have been more than 40 recorded fatalities, while…
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Profile: Tasana Nagavajara – A musical feast for the soul
PHUKET: Bangkok native Tasana Nagavajara is the artistic director of Pro Musica and is currently performing a series of classical concerts as the violinist for Pro Musica Ensemble. The trio is touring Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin and Bangkok this month, with the Phuket performance tonight – Monday January 23 – at Mom Tri Villa Royale. Mr Tasana has been…
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Taxi and tuk tuk operators’ requests denied
PHUKET: The Provincial Committee turned down requests from both taxi and tuk tuk operators to either expand their services to other areas or bring more vehicles to the Island. Phuket Vice Governor Sanit Sriwihok presided over the meeting with concerned officials regarding the requests at the Provincial Hall yesterday afternoon. “Taxi operators in Phuket City are asking for permission to…
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PHA launches ‘Brand Phuket’ logo
PHUKET: The Phuket Hotels Association (PHA) unveiled ‘Brand Phuket’ at the annual Thailand Tourism Forum this afternoon, held at the InterContinental Bangkok, with more than 550 travel and tourism leaders from around the region in attendance. The brand identity, set to drive the profile of the destination worldwide, was created by global branding agency QUO, focusing on positive stories about…
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Fisherman drags ashore ‘disappeared’ 4 million baht speedboat
PHANG NGA: A speedboat that went missing on Thursday was found floating off Koh Yao, Phang Nga Bay, by a local fisherman yesterday afternoon. The speedboat belonged to the Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra resort and reportedly ‘disappeared into thin air’ after being anchored off Krabi (story here). The fisherman, Apichat Singharoon, 32, reported his discovery to the Klong Prasong village headman,…
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Business Buzz: Social media trends to look out for this year
PHUKET: As we begin another new year, it is a timely opportunity to consider what we should look out for in 2017. It is always important to reevaluate your digital footprint on a regular basis.Here are my 2017 tips to have a successful year in social media and beat your competition, increase your revenues and improve customer loyalty. Remember, an…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: Investigating death
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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Hotel speedboat communication goes dark after dropping anchor
KRABI: A speedboat ‘disappeared into thin air’ after being anchored off Krabi last night. The speedboat, that belonged to Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort, was reported as ‘missing’ by hotel staff at about 10am today to Somsak Tepbhud, village chief of Baan Koh Kwang. “The staff told us that they had been in contact with the boat crew…
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Opinion: Re-evaluating beach safety in Phuket
PHUKET: IT IS reassuring to know that lifeguard services will continue uninterrupted at popular Phuket beaches this year (story here), but we still need to do a better job of publicizing beach safety risks. The pending contract agreement between the Phuket Lifeguard Club (PLC) and the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) will continue to minimize the number of preventable drowning…
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BREAKING NEWS: One seriously injured after explosion on yacht
PHUKET: Two men were injured after a fire extinguisher exploded inside a yacht at the Boat Lagoon at about 2pm today. The yacht, named Serenity, is on the hardstand at the marina for repairs. Both men, who are employees of Marine Engineering Co, were taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital where one is reported to be in critical condition. Maj Somchai…
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Elephant “sees red’ during blood test, rams into pick-up
PHUKET: Visitors and officers watched in horror yesterday as an elephant became agitated during a blood test at a camp in the Nakkerd Hill, damaging a pick-up truck parked nearby. The 15-year-old elephant, named ‘Plai Kong Thong’ was undergoing a general health and DNA check by officers from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), who are…
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Mother, son among four arrested in Phuket krathom bust
PHUKET: About 50 kilograms of krathom were seized and four suspects arrested following raids on four houses in Talad Yai yesterday afternoon. A joint task force comprising Army 41, Navy 3 and Phuket City Police officers raided the houses in the Sapan Ruam community on Anupas Phuket Karn Road, after neighbors complained of krathom dealing taking place there. “At the…
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Tiger Temple’s left over animals to be relocated
KANCHANABURI: Parks officials mobilized staff from the Protected Areas Regional Office 3 to catch protected and endangered animals left at the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi Province yesterday. The animals were left over from the last raid at the controversial temple mid last year (story here), and will be moved to other wildlife breeding operations in nearby provinces for better care.…
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Law, Life and Society: Becoming a professional teacher in Thailand
PHUKET: If there is one thing that impels young professionals to come and visit Thailand, it’s the idea that the grass looks greener on this side of the world. Thailand offers vast employment opportunities to foreigners, especially in the field of education. I recall being reluctant, yet interested, as I started looking into the possibility of becoming a teacher about…
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Phuket police hunt for Rawai burglary suspect
PHUKET: Police are hunting for a burglar who broke into a British man’s rental house in Rawai on Tuesday. Steven Denkhag, 47, filed a complaint with Chalong Police that his belongings, 3,000 baht in cash, and several ATM cards had been stolen from his house. One of Mr Senkhag’s friends, a Facebook user named Onlyyou Formemylove, shared CCTV footage of…
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Immigration Chief says Phuket Airport now fully equipped
PHUKET: Phuket International Airport is now ‘fully equipped’ in terms of personnel and equipment to handle arriving and departing passengers, the Immigration Commissioner announced on Tuesday. He added that officials have “done their best” to reduce long queues and make immigration service faster. Long lines, delays, non-existent essential equipment, a lack of personnel and “confused travellers” all marred the opening…
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Man found dead in water tank
PHUKET: The body of an Indonesian crew member was found in a ship’s water tank yesterday morning. The ship, named Fuh Cih Fu no 68, was moored off Koh Tapao Noi in Wichit. Although the body was initially discovered by a crew member on the vessel the day before, it was not reported until about 9am yesterday, according to Maj…
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Manhunt for Phuket hit and run killer is underway
PHUKET: The search is on for a driver involved in the hit and run killing of an elderly man in Thalang yesterday. Capt Chatree Chuwichian of Thalang Police received a report of a man who was crossing the street and got hit by a pickup truck about 6am. “Witnesses claimed that a pickup truck crashed into Sangop Sookkaew, 78, and…
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Czech tourist sex-offender fined B1,000 in Phuket
PHUKET: A Czech Interpol fugitive, arrested on Tuesday for allegedly spreading HIV in both Thailand and his home country, has been fined 1,000 baht (approx US$ 35.00) by a Phuket Court for overstaying his visa by close to a year and a half. Zdenek Pfeifer, 49, was arrested at his home in Cherng Talay, where a joint task force of…
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Interpol wanted Czech pedophile arrested in Phuket
PHUKET: Royal Thai Police last night arrested a Czech Interpol fugitive wanted for allegedly spreading HIV in both Thailand and his home country. Zdenek Pfeifer, 49, was arrested at the Sila apartments in Cherng Talay. He was initially charged with overstaying his visa, but will now be taken to Bangkok for processing of charges filed against him. Mr Pfeifer has…
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Phuket, Surat Thani police collaborate on B1.5mn drug bust
PHUKET: A suspected dealer was arrested with drugs worth at least 1.5 million baht at his apartment in Phuket Town on Sunday. Phuket City Police received a tip-off from Surat Thani Police that a suspect named Payoongkorn Inaksorn would be delivering drugs from Surat Thani to Phuket. Officers in Surat Thani received the information after apprehending another drug dealer who…
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Phuket International Boat Show draws crowds
PHUKET: The 2017 Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX) presented by Thailand Elite was held from January 5-8 and aimed to impress with an abundance of action in the marina and waterside Exhibition Hall – and a busy boardwalk at host venue Royal Phuket Marina. Despite the unexpected rainy weather on the last two days, visitor turnout was strong, with a…
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Minor caught shoplifting at Supercheap store
PHUKET: A Phang Nga girl was arrested early this morning in Phuket after she was caught shoplifting from a Supercheap store near the Heroines’ Monument. Capt Suporn Muangkairong of Thalang Police received the report about 4am. “Staff told us that she had entered the store with a bag, but they paid no heed to it. However, the door alarms started…
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Phuket cops dress as postmen to nab B500K worth of drugs
PHUKET: A suspected dealer was busted with drugs worth about half a million baht by undercover police officers in Phuket Town on Sunday. A tip from another dealer, who had surrendered himself on Saturday, led Phuket City Police officials to the post office behind Provincial Hall. “The dealer told us that a man named Korapat Thipasak, 33, would come to…
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Profile: Tara Sudlow – A special connection with Phuket
PHUKET: Tara Sudlow is a Perth native who moved to Phuket 22 years ago, and for the last 13 years has been running her own real estate company here. “I first visited Phuket in 1986 at the age of 14. I was a very shy kid back then, always hanging around my mother. Then, I met this amazing Thai family…
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Lifeguard chief says budget cut will not impact service quality
PHUKET: The quality and number of lifeguards in Phuket will remain unaffected in the new contract despite a 10 percent cut in the budget, the president of the Phuket Lifeguard Club (PLC) told the Phuket Gazette today. Public concern about the budget cut for Phuket’s lifeguards has been voiced by both the local and international communities here, with the California-based…
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Another taxi driver kills another motorcyclist in Phuket
PHUKET: A motorcyclist was killed late last night in a head-on collision with a taxi in Cherng Talay. Lt Col Rassada Kluengwong of Cherng Talay Police received reports of the incident at about 1:50am. “We arrived to find the body of 43-year-old Sarayuth Duangjan lying face down on the asphalt in the middle of the road,” said Col Rassada. “Rescue…
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Police hunt for shooter of injured Burmese woman
PHUKET: A woman was shot during a ya bah (methamphetamine) ‘exchange’ at a Burmese workers’ camp yesterday morning. Capt Kraisorn Boonprasob of Thalang Police received reports of the incident from 41-year-old Mongkol Wongpradit, the caretaker of the camp located in Thalang. “Chan, a worker at the camp, told us that two Thai men on a white motorbike approached him and…
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Phuket officials request hotels, vendors to curb flow of wastewater
PHUKET: Cherng Talay officials have asked hotels and vendors to stop the discharge of wastewater onto Surin Beach. The request was issued after locals voiced concern on Sunday over stinking, trash-bearing wastewater flowing from a large sewage pipe near the beach. “We have had this problem for at least a year now, but now it has worsened terribly,” complains a…
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Property: Angsana Beachfront Residences attract global interest
Advertorial: PHUKET: The Banyan Tree Group’s launch of Angsana Beachfront Residences, its inaugural investment in resort style living in Thailand at Laguna Phuket, Bang Tao Beach, is already being hailed a success. Over 60% of the beachfront luxury branded condominiums have been sold since the project was announced last month (story here). “We are receiving a level of response in…
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Finance: Next phase of tech revolution may be here
PHUKET: While many have been focused on Brexit, problems in Europe, the Middle East and the US elections, a technology revolution has quietly marched toward its most important phase, that is not being recognized by the mainstream media (which is focused on making predictions about where the market will go in 2017). The tech revolution is alive and well and…
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Across the Land: What the new airport means for Phang Nga
PHUKET: It’s been three months since the new Phuket International Airport terminal was officially opened, but the moans and groans about the efficiency of the airport remain, with passengers complaining of long delays at immigration counters – whether inbound or outbound. Even the domestic terminal has seen long queues waiting for luggage, and a chaos of cars, taxis and limousines…
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