Legacy Phuket Gazette

Archiving articles from the Phuket Gazette circa 1998 - 2017. View the Phuket Gazette online archive and Digital Gazette PDF Prints.
  • OpinionPhuket Opinion: Housing boom making snail mail slower

    Phuket Opinion: Housing boom making snail mail slower

    Boonsong Maneechai, 52, from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, served as Postmaster of the Thaweewong Post Office in Patong for four years before becoming the Postmaster of the Rawai Office in 2009. Here, he talks about why the residents of Rawai and Chalong have been experiencing mail delivery delays, and outlines the steps he is taking to correct the problem. PHUKET: The…

  • Phuket NewsNo wildfire warning in Phuket, but fire alert remains

    No wildfire warning in Phuket, but fire alert remains

    PHUKET: The lack of rainfall across the island in recent weeks has yet to prompt the authorities to issue a wildfire warning for Phuket, but they have called for people to be vigilant as a precaution.“We have not issued a fire warning as there are small packets of rain falling on scattered areas,” Phuket Forest Protection and Fire Control Director…

  • Thai LifePhuket Gardening: Doctor’s delight – more cover-ups

    Phuket Gardening: Doctor’s delight – more cover-ups

    PHUKET: This week opens the ‘last chance saloon’ door to a few more multicolored foliage shrubs. And in fact, two or three are consistent performers and might rightly feel miffed if not given a mention. Indeed one, sanchezia nobile, prompted an enthusiastic Floridian to write on the web as follows: “Does anybody know about this plant? I saw it here…

  • World NewsPhuket Gazette World News: Cyprus crisis; Aus PM Gillard in leadership battle; Killer bees attack SA school

    Phuket Gazette World News: Cyprus crisis; Aus PM Gillard in leadership battle; Killer bees attack SA school

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Cyprus scrambles to avert meltdown, EU threatens cut-off Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Cyprus considered nationalising pension funds and ordered banks to stay shut till next week to avert financial chaos after it rejected the terms of a European Union bailout and turned to Russia for aid.Crisis talks…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Gazette Sports: UN to rescue the World Cup

    Phuket Gazette Sports: UN to rescue the World Cup

    Exclusive – Brazil enlists U.N. help to ready World Cup stadium Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Brazil’s capital city, struggling to finish a new football stadium in time for an upcoming dress rehearsal for the 2014 World Cup, is turning to a surprising partner for help: the United Nations. The Brasilia government signed this week a 35 million reais (11.65…

  • Phuket NewsPolice arrest 25 Sri Lankan refugees trafficked to Phuket

    Police arrest 25 Sri Lankan refugees trafficked to Phuket

    PHUKET: Police today arrested at least 25 refugees found walking along the busy Chao Fa East Road in Chalong. “The group included 18 men, six women and a 2-year-old boy. Among the six women, one was two months pregnant,” Chalong Police Superintendent Krittapas Det-intarasorn told the Phuket Gazette. None of the refugees could present passports, he explained. Some had United…

  • Thailand NewsPhuket Gazette Thailand News: DSI chief to repeat ‘Men in Black’ testimony; Monarchy loyalists rally; Thailand gets happy

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: DSI chief to repeat ‘Men in Black’ testimony; Monarchy loyalists rally; Thailand gets happy

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community House panel wants to hear from DSI chief again over ‘men in black’ The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: A House committee yesterday unanimously resolved to summon Department of Special Investigation chief Tarit Pengdith to repeat his statement to the committee about the operations of the so-called “men…

  • Thai LifeKrawling around Krabi

    Krawling around Krabi

    PHUKET: The island’s ever-expanding traffic makes cycling trips off Phuket all the more enticing. This week, we join Amazing Bike Tours for their three-day adventure to get away from it all by “Krawling Around Krabi”. Amazing Bike Tours is an innovative company that lives up to its inspirational name by providing exciting, well-managed and good value group cycling tours, not…

  • Thailand NewsGaming bender ends with knife suicide threat | Thaiger

    Gaming bender ends with knife suicide threat

    PHUKET: A man who spent all night playing shooting games in a video game shop in Bangkok got out of paying for his night of entertainment by threatening to stab himself in the neck. Chairat Chairak, 30, told reporters he used to work at a larb (a spicy Northeastern meat salad) shop in the Sathupradit Road area of Bangkok. But…

  • Phuket NewsTourist Police hit in Phuket Town shootout, killing two

    Tourist Police hit in Phuket Town shootout, killing two

    PHUKET: A Phuket Tourist Police officer is in hospital this morning recovering from wounds sustained after a gunfight in a neighbor’s room which left two men dead early this morning. Sen Sgt Maj Pinchai Piyadilok was shot in the leg and in the stomach in the incident, and is recovering from surgery. Police have yet to question him. Officers received…

  • PropertyPhuket Property: The Emerald Terrace stands out in Patong

    Phuket Property: The Emerald Terrace stands out in Patong

    PHUKET: The uniquely designed Emerald Terrace will cover 1.3 rai of land on a hillside in Patong. The 7-storey, low-rise condominium will have 133 units comprising 98 studios; 21 one-bedroom apartments – eight of which will have private rooftops – and six two-bedroom apartments with private roof tops. Owners can use the swimming pool or relax in the distinctive pod-shaped…

  • Business NewsPhuket Business: Why Google is still the best

    Phuket Business: Why Google is still the best

    PHUKET: The word ‘Google’ is a household name, synonymous with the word ‘search’ or even ‘research’ for most people around the world. The name itself originated from the word ‘Googol’, coined by Milton Sirotta, meaning the number 1 followed by 100 zeros; basically an extremely large number. It represents the vast universe of information that Google makes available to the…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Gazette Sports: Salute, suspicions and sympathy

    Phuket Gazette Sports: Salute, suspicions and sympathy

    Katidis banned for rest of Greek season for Nazi salute Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: AEK Athens have suspended Giorgos Katidis for the rest of the season after the 20-year-old midfielder made a Nazi salute to fans during a game at the weekend.The former captain of his country’s under-19 side had already been banned from all international teams for life by…

  • World NewsPhuket Gazette World News: Polish mine collapse; Congo up in arms; Pakistani schoolgirl shot by Taliban starts school in UK

    Phuket Gazette World News: Polish mine collapse; Congo up in arms; Pakistani schoolgirl shot by Taliban starts school in UK

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Seventeen workers trapped underground at Polish mine Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Seventeen miners are trapped underground in a Polish copper mine after an earthquake caused a cave-in, a spokesman for mine operator KGHM said this morning.The miners were trapped 600 metres below ground at the Rudna mine,…

  • Phuket NewsFear of attacks on Phuket’s new airport buses delays launch date

    Fear of attacks on Phuket’s new airport buses delays launch date

    PHUKET: The long-awaited and much supported Phuket Airport Bus Express – marking Phuket’s first ‘hop on-hop off’ bus service from the airport to major tourist beaches along the west coast (story here) – will not be launched this month. The news came at a provincial transport committee meeting at the Phuket Land Transportation Office (PLTO) this afternoon led by ardent…

  • Koh Samui NewsPhuket Property Watch: Koh Samui puts on a game face

    Phuket Property Watch: Koh Samui puts on a game face

    PHUKET: War is hell. While the opinion on developing tourism often ranges from heaven to hell or somewhere in-between those luxury hotel 400 thread count fine Egyptian bed sheets (as usual I can’t help but take a quick detour off into the realms of upscale bedding). Apparently there is an ongoing controversy over thread count linen and whether the claims…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket to become land probe role model

    Phuket to become land probe role model

    PHUKET: A Deputy Ministry of Interior arrived on Phuket yesterday to launch a land title deed investigation geared to establish Phuket as a role model for land probes.“Many plots of land have been acquired through corrupt officials,” Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Prasopdee told the Phuket Gazette.“This investigation, commencing immediately and lasting 30 days, will establish Phuket as a role model…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Sports: ‘Imagina na Copa!’

    Phuket Sports: ‘Imagina na Copa!’

    PHUKET: It’s the catchphrase of the year in Brazil: “Imagina na Copa!”It basically means “Imagine what it’ll be like during the World Cup,” and it has become a favourite among Brazilians stuck in traffic or in line at their woefully overcrowded airports.The underlying belief is that the chaos will be worse when Brazil hosts the football tournament in June 2014,…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Police deny drug suspect bribe, make “honor arrest’

    Phuket Police deny drug suspect bribe, make “honor arrest’

    PHUKET: A senior Phuket City Police officer arrested a woman for tarnishing the name of the Royal Thai Police after she allegedly claimed to have paid him 400,000 baht in bribe money.The news follows Duangporn Luesub, 36, arriving at Phuket City Police Station yesterday to discuss the issue with Phuket City Police Deputy Superintendent Prawit Engchuan, the sole case officer…

  • World NewsPhuket Gazette World News: China in Top 5 arms dealers; President Li in US talks on cyber war, trade

    Phuket Gazette World News: China in Top 5 arms dealers; President Li in US talks on cyber war, trade

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community New China leader Xi to meet U.S. to discuss cyber row, trade Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew will meet new Chinese President Xi Jinping today at a critical time in relations between the world’s two largest economies, with cyber hacking, the Chinese currency…

  • Thailand NewsPhuket Gazette Thailand News: Thailand among Asia’s highest achievers; Thai TV unplugged; drought, erosion bite hard

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Thailand among Asia’s highest achievers; Thai TV unplugged; drought, erosion bite hard

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thailand joins ranks of ‘high achievers’ in East Asia The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thailand has made it into the UNDP’s list of “high achievers” in East Asia, along with China, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. The rapid human development progress of Thailand and Asia-Pacific nations…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Police bag two as snatch turns snitch

    Phuket Police bag two as snatch turns snitch

    PHUKET: A young Thai woman wanted as a bag-snatcher was placed under arrest by Phuket Police yesterday after she presented herself at Thalang Police Station to seek guidance over being beaten by her boyfriend. Rudeemas “Yaem” Sumeng, 22, reported the whereabouts of her partner to Thalang Police after he allegedly beat her. She walked into the police station apparently unaware…

  • Phuket NewsBeach north of Phuket crawling with baby turtles

    Beach north of Phuket crawling with baby turtles

    PHUKET: The beach at Khao Lampi – Hat Thai Mueang National Park has been full of life over the past month with 339 baby leatherback turtles hatching from five protected nests in the area.“We are still watching two more nests expected to hatch soon. One nest contains 91 eggs and the other contains 84 eggs,” park chief Witoon Detpramuanphol told…

  • Phuket NewsMinistry of Justice steps up to help Phuket sea gypsies

    Ministry of Justice steps up to help Phuket sea gypsies

    PHUKET: Thailand’s Ministry of Justice is spearheading a multi-agency effort to provide assistance to sea gyspies in Phuket.Leaders of the small sea gypsy community in Rawai currently face legal action from investors for allegedly encroaching on private land, despite the previously nomadic people having lived there for decades.Many of the indigenous fisherfolk from Rawai have also been arrested, and released…

  • Business NewsPhuket Business: Tax filing deadline nears

    Phuket Business: Tax filing deadline nears

    PHUKET: With the peak of the Thai hot season fast approaching, the Personal Income Tax (PIT) filing deadline is also nigh. Usually, the deadline is March 31, but since the last day of March this year falls on a Sunday, income earners in the Kingdom have been given until Monday, April 1 to file their paper returns, or until Tuesday,…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket bus driver found dead, pinned by bus door

    Phuket bus driver found dead, pinned by bus door

    PHUKET: Police are investigating the death of a bus driver whose body was found, still standing, pinned by the partially closed door of his own bus this morning.Phuket native Ekkarat Sarapol, 29, from Wichit, arrived and parked his Sawat Travel Company bus alongside other tour buses at the Phuket Boat Lagoon, north of Phuket Town, at 6am.He was last seen…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Events: Professional Beach Volleyball returns with FIVB Open

    Phuket Events: Professional Beach Volleyball returns with FIVB Open

    PHUKET: The Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Beach Volleyball World Tour event, the ‘Thailand Open’ powered by PTT, is set to return to Karon Beach, Phuket, this year. After staging the event in Phuket for six years, the tournament was moved to Bang Saen, near Pattaya, last year but changes to the regulations by the FIVB have allowed the organizers…

  • Phuket NewsSea Warriors hook Blue Marlins

    Sea Warriors hook Blue Marlins

    PHUKET: The Southern Sea Warriors won their first Thailand Yamaha One League (YL1) game of the season, beating Suzuki Si Racha FC 3-1 in front of just over 4,200 fans at Surakul Stadium on Saturday. Last season, Phuket had lost both of its YL1 league matches – home and away – against the Suzuki Si Racha ‘Blue Marlins’. Phuket FC…

  • Thailand NewsPhuket Gazette Thailand News: Pheu Thai denies Yaowapa groomed for PM; Monarchy TV review axed; MCOT to rule TrueVisions ads

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Pheu Thai denies Yaowapa groomed for PM; Monarchy TV review axed; MCOT to rule TrueVisions ads

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Pheu Thai denies grooming Yaowapa as PM’s stand-in The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The ruling Pheu Thai Party yesterday accused the Opposition Democrats of being fanciful in their claims that Pheu Thai heavyweight Yaowapa Wongsawat is being prepared as a stand-in should PM Yingluck Shinawatra meet with…

  • World NewsPhuket Gazette World News: Kenyan president and war crimes; Damascus under siege; 17 jailed for cop bomb plot; Budapest up in arms; Somali rape reporter freed

    Phuket Gazette World News: Kenyan president and war crimes; Damascus under siege; 17 jailed for cop bomb plot; Budapest up in arms; Somali rape reporter freed

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Kenyatta lawyers push international court to drop case Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Lawyers for Kenya’s president-elect, Uhuru Kenyatta, will push the International Criminal Court today to drop charges against him after the case against his co-accused collapsed. The case against Kenyatta, on charges of crimes…