Month: April 2017
- Phuket News
Ton of trash collected in beach clean-up off Phuket
PHUKET: About a ton of trash was collected in a beach clean-up organized by Nonthasak Marine Co Ltd at Hei Island (Coral Island) this morning. More than a 100 people, including students from Prince of Songkla University (Phuket Campus); volunteer divers; local vendors and operators; and employees of Nonthasak Marine, participated in the initiative. The campaign involved both beach trash…
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Chinese, Korean tourists rescued in near-drowning incidents
PHUKET: Two tourists were safely rescued in separate near-drowning incidents on the Similan islands yesterday. The first involved a 47-year-old Chinese woman, Zheng Guiping, who called out for help while swimming at Koh Ha at about 10am. Ms Zheng, who had booked a tour with ‘Sea Star’, was stranded in the water for about five minutes. She spluttered and choked…
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Phuket to strengthen marine tourism relations with Indonesia
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong welcomed the Indonesian Tourism Minister to discuss strengthening of marine tourism relations between the two countries. The governor met Arief Yahya from The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism at the Phuket Boat Lagoon on Thursday. “Indonesia has just revealed their plans to run a special campaign between Nov 8 and Dec 5 that will assist tourists…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: Frightened of small animals
PHUKET: 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…
Read More » - Opinion
Opinion: Gov’s ‘war on dirtiness’ a noble aim
PHUKET: Cleanliness is next to Godliness, as the old saying goes, so it is hard not to agree with new governor Norraphat Plodthong’s stated goal of beautifying Phuket “by our hands”. Gov Norraphat, set for mandatory retirement from the civil service in just a few months’ time, has understandably had to set his priorities in a practical way. When one…
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Phuket officials plan walking street, gated entrance at Surin
PHUKET: A year after the demolition of the last remaining buildings along Surin Beach, and nine months after plans were announced to convert the beach into ‘Rajabhakti Park’, officials are still waiting for approval for the more than 800-million-baht project to be built in its place. The plans, which have been revised several times, were submitted by the Cherng Talay…
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Hair professionals reveal latest trends
PHUKET: Salon owners and hair stylists from all over Thailand gathered together in Phuket for the ‘Essential Looks Spring/Summer 2017 Hair Trends’ conference by Dr Somsak Chalachol, one of the most influential hair professionals in Thailand. The seminar was conducted earlier this week at the Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa and sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional. Dr Somsak, Asia Pacific Hair…
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Young Thai killed in collision with Korean expat
PHUKET: A young Thai man was killed last night after smashing into a Korean expat’s pick-up truck in Phuket Town. Maj Nattaya Suwanpong of Phuket City Police received reports of the incident at about 11pm. It had occurred at the Thepkrasattri-Nakhon road junction near Phuket Wittayalai School. “The motorcyclist, Siraphan Sampaorat, 20, was lying in a pool of blood on…
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Three arrested in Phuket for serial theft, possession of drugs
PHUKET: Three men, including an ex-employee of Triple T Broadband Public Company Limited (3BB), were arrested yesterday afternoon for stealing more than 60 batteries from the company’s signal booster boxes in Thalang. Tibet Manubut, 23; Worawut Chusrinun, 20; and Narit Buakhong, 27; were arrested at their rental room in Thalang at about 3pm. They were also found in possession of…
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Meter-long lizard causes scare at Phuket beach
PHUKET: Lifeguards caught a ‘massive’ lizard that scared several locals and tourists at Nai Harn Beach yesterday. Pictures of the lizard taking a stroll on the beach and a triumphant lifeguard appeared on a Facebook page named ‘Phuket Lifeguard Service’ with the caption “Nai Harn has a guest today. We had to take it off the beach.” The lizard was…
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Park officials urge public to stop hornbill trading
PHANG NGA: Ao Phang Nga National Park officials this morning issued a statement urging the public to stop hornbill trading after a post by a Koh Yao Noi preservation group went viral on social media. Last week, an unidentified suspect stole three preserved hornbill birds – an adult female and two chicks. The mother was found dead at the scene…
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Public, media partnerships vital for Phuket, says ISOC chief
PHUKET: Officials from the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) in Bangkok visited Phuket yesterday to talk about building better partnerships between the government and local media organizations. The meeting was led by Col Chan Sittichai of ISOC and held at the Phuket Provincial Operations Center. “I am very happy with the work being done by ISOC in Phuket. Mass media…
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Krabi cop and ladyboy embroiled in road rage
KRABI: A police officer and a ladyboy buried the hatchet yesterday after video clips of the two went viral on social media. In the clips, the pair are seen arguing over a minor road accident in Krabi Town, across the bay from Phuket. On Tuesday, Facebook user Napat Sara Malaisanan uploaded two videos with the caption: “You want my friend…
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Thai police defend response to Facebook clip of baby’s murder
PHUKET: Royal Thai Police yesterday defended their response to a horrific video clip of a father murdering his baby daughter (story here), that remained on Facebook Live for about 24 hours before it was removed. Col Krissana Pattanacharoen, deputy national police spokesman, said the Technology Crime Suppression Division alerted the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society soon after learning about…
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Foreign tourists wrongfully arrested for fraud in Phuket
PHUKET: Two Chinese tourists were arrested and subsequently released yesterday after officers in Phuket received a warning from officials in Bangkok about their alleged involvement in credit card fraud. “Mr Jun Jie Ju and Ms Jia Xin Chen were arrested at a Cherng Talay hotel at about 3pm,” said Lt Col Tianchai Chompoo of Phuket Immigration Police. The colonel said…
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Krabi locals complain as new factory dumps waste into canal
KRABI: More than 60 Krabi Town locals yesterday urged Krabi Dhamrongtham Center representatives to look into the activities of a factory releasing waste into a nearby canal. At about 11:30am, the locals presented clear pictures of the palm oil factory draining wastewater directly into the water body, which has reportedly caused it to stink over the past year. “The factory…
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Phuket man streams live video of his suicide and murder of his baby daughter
PHUKET: A young father and his 11-month-old baby were found hanging at an abandoned construction site for a hotel in an apparent murder-suicide in Nai Thon last night. Thalang Police were contacted by 21-year-old Jiranuch Trirat earlier in the evening asking for help to find her husband and daughter, who had both disappeared from their house in Baan Mood Dok…
Read More » - Thai Life
Looking Back: The role of the Garuda in Thai history
PHUKET: The Garuda is a common symbol in Thailand. It can be found on bank notes, government documents and official flags, as well as government and private offices. The emblem of the Thai government is a frontal image of the Garuda in red, adopted in 1910 during the reign of King Rama VI. The legend dates back thousands of years,…
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Excuse Buster: Getting your kids to eat more vegetables
PHUKET: I am slated to give a talk on nutrition at one of Phuket’s international schools soon. One question I always get asked when speaking to parents is: “How do I get my child to eat vegetables?” Having two children myself, I know the struggles of encouraging children to eat more from this critical food group packed full of nutrients.…
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Across the Land: Luxury villa rentals picking up in Phuket
PHUKET: This year, the luxury villa rental inquiries are coming in early. By March, agents had already started calling around asking for rental rates over the holiday season of December 2017 to April 2018. Luxury villa rentals over the last two holiday seasons have been somewhat disappointing, with villa owners either not achieving any rentals for their properties at all…
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East meets West in bold new collection
PHUKET: Quattro Design, one of Thailand’s top importers and designers of exclusive furniture, recently launched a limited edition collection named ‘East Meets West’, and the philosophy behind it is to represent the relaxed, tropical lifestyle of Phuket. ‘East Meets West’ is a collaborative effort between Eichholtz (a home furnishing brand from the Netherlands that Quattro distributes) and Jim Thompson, the…
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10-year-old Russian tourist injured in Phuket parasailing accident
PHUKET: A 10-year-old Russian tourist was injured after he fell from a height of 2.5 meters while parasailing at Karon Beach this afternoon. Rescue workers and police received reports of the incident from lifeguards at Karon Beach at about noon. The victim, Timur Gadylshin, received first aid on the spot and was then taken to Patong Hospital where he was…
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Phang Nga to create underwater tourist attraction
PHUKET: More than 20 decommissioned army trucks were lowered into the water with the aim of enhancing marine life in Phang Nga yesterday. The project was launched in honor of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. “We have placed artificial coral, army vehicles (for coral to grow on) and a statue of a sea turtle in order to revive tourism and marine…
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Phuket durian to be upgraded as GI product
PHUKET: A campaign to promote durian has been launched in Kamala, roughly nine months after pineapples with a price tag of 1,500 baht hit the markets in Phuket last year (story here). “Following an announcement by the Ministry of Commerce, committee members came to Phuket to ‘inspect’ local durians in Kamala,” said Kamala subdistrict chief Kamnan Yuttasak Yayee. “Each tree…
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PEA responds to high electricity demand with new office on Phi Phi
PHUKET: The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) on Saturday opened a new office on Koh Phi Phi, a month after finishing a 600-million-baht underwater cable project that began in April 2013. Both projects were initiated in response to the high demand for electricity on the island, totaling about seven megawatts per year. The grand opening was chaired by PEA Governor Sermsakul…
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‘Inexperienced’ Chinese tourist drowns in Phuket
PHUKET: A Chinese tourist snorkeling for the first time in his life drowned at Koh Racha Yai yesterday afternoon. The victim, Hangseng Chen, 62, was on a day trip with the ‘Jaiyun Travel Group Co Ltd’. “Suthee Maliwan, the tour guide, told us that at about 11:40am, he made a stop to let the tourists snorkel off the island. He…
Read More » - Opinion
Ministry of Farang Affairs: Girls you bring back home
PHUKET: 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…
Read More » - Business News
Finance: Using fundamental and technical analysis to gauge stocks
PHUKET: When I decide that a stock could either be worth buying or worth placing on a watch list, the first thing I do is look at the stock’s fundamentals using a stock research and marketing tool called ‘MarketSmith’. Using small cap LGI Homes (NASDAQ: LGIH) as a sample stock, let’s look at some fundamental data that will help decide…
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Opinion: Phuket tourist influx and the rise in hospital bills
PHUKET: During the current ‘restart’ period, the government should consider establishing a system of mandatory, basic healthcare insurance for visiting foreign tourists who lack it while travelling in the Kingdom. As outlined in a recent Phuket Gazette article by Dr Tanwa Apornthip (story here), measures need to be established to authenticate Thailand as a genuine ‘world-class’ tourist destination. Tourist arrival…
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First priority is to beautify Phuket, says Gov Norraphat
PHUKET: Newly-appointed Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong says his first priority is to beautify Phuket. Earlier this week, the governor held his first ‘media meet’ since his arrival on the island on April 10, to lay out his plans for Phuket. On April 4, ex-Phuket Governor Chokchai Dejamornthan was transferred out after six months on the job, with Gov Norraphat –…
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Woman killed, 3-year-old niece survives Phuket hit-and-run
PHUKET: A woman was killed and a three-year-old slightly injured in another hit-and-run accident in Thalang yesterday evening. The child is now confirmed to be out of danger. Lt Sunan Pethnhoo of Thalang Police received reports of the accident, which occurred near Tesco Lotus Thalang on Thepkrasattri Road, at about 5:45pm. Police arrived at the scene with rescue teams to…
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DMCR continues coral growing initiatives off Phuket
PHUKET: The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) led an initiative to plant 1,600 pieces of live natural coral on an artificial (concrete) reef at Koh Mai Thon and Koh Racha Yai earlier this week. “This is part of an ongoing project to sustain and improve our ecosystems and natural environment,” said Suchat Rattanaruengsri of the DMCR. A total…
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Ex-military among those arrested for criminal association in Krabi
KRABI: Krabi Provincial Police yesterday arrested 16 ex-military and other security personnel with nine rifles, 10 shotguns, bullets and an array of other paraphernalia. The arrest occurred in a palm plantation in Krabi Town that, until last year, was in possession of United Palm Oil Industry Public Company Limited (UPOIC). Chettha Kaew-In, 43, was the main suspect, while the rest…
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‘Mentally ill’ Phuket man blows half his head off
PHUKET: A Mai Khao resident believed to be suffering from a mental illness reportedly shot himself in his home this morning in what turned out to be one of the worst scenes Phuket police say they have encountered recently. Lt Col Watcharin Jirattikanwiwat of Tah Chat Chai Police received reports of the incident at about 8:45am. “The house was located…
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By The Book: Property market trends in the second quarter
PHUKET: As we enter the second quarter of 2017, the real estate market in Phuket remains slow. There are ‘pockets’ of demand: there is demand for freehold condos and discounted resale properties. Inquiries from the Thai domestic market are picking up and the condo market in Bangkok is doing well, with many developers there reporting strong sales so far this…
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Unidentified foreign tourist’s body recovered from Phuket beach
PHUKET: Lifeguards and police officers have recovered the body of an unidentified foreign tourist from the water at Patong Beach. The man was reported to have disappeared this morning, Local vendors informed lifeguards of his disappearance at about 9am, saying that he simply never returned after going into the water. Lifeguards hopped onto their jet-skis to search the sea. Patong…
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Ex-convict charged with seven counts of rape in Phuket
PHUKET: Patong Police yesterday arrested a Pattani man for rape, impersonating an officer of the law, robbery and house encroachment. “Russanee Bahe, 32, has confessed to seven counts of rape,” Lt Col Somsak Thongkliang of Patong Police told the Phuket Gazette. Col Somsak led a team of officers to arrest him at the ‘Best Store’ hotel in the China Town…
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