- Opinion
Ministry of Farang Affairs: Farang is always wrong
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…
- Opinion
Opinion: Jealousy is a powerful motivator
PHUKET: Phuket was in the international news spotlight again last week, this time for the heartbreaking murder of an 11-month-old baby girl, hanged by her own father in Nai Thon (story here). Most readers will already be familiar with the tragically short life of Natalee ‘Biw’ Wongtalay, whose execution went viral after her late father, 21, chose to post it…
- Phuket News
His Majesty’s tunes to be played at jazz concert in his honor
PHUKET: Jazz lovers are in for a treat when the free concert ‘Jazz for King 2 – Andaman Jazz by the Sea’ kicks off in Phuket on May 20, featuring the music of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX). The event will be held at Loma Park in Patong from 7-10pm, hosted by the Andaman Natural Resources…
- Phuket News
Army commander outlines new agenda for Phuket
PHUKET: The new Army Region 4 commander has announced his agenda for Phuket, ticking off a list of at least a dozen problems he feels need urgent resolution. During his visit last week, Lt Gen Piyawat Nakwanit said that he was “generally satisfied with the state of tourism in Phuket”, but that getting rid of ‘powerful people’ and officers who…
- Phuket News
Phuket Police try to identify injured elderly foreigner
PHUKET: An injured, elderly foreigner ran amok shouting for help from passersby in Phuket Town last night. The man had head and back injuries, but officials were unable to identify him as he was incoherent. He had blonde hair and was wearing a white T-shirt and black shorts. Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers received reports of him by concerned locals at…
- Phuket News
Phuket lovers’ quarrel ends in near-drowning
PHUKET: A ‘tomboy’ narrowly escaped drowning early this morning after she walked into the sea at Saphan Hin following an argument with her girlfriend. Lt Col Pongpichan Chayanonpiriya of Phuket City Police received reports of the incident at about 6:30am. “We found a young woman at the scene, crying and calling out for ‘Jip’. After searching the area for 30…
- Phuket News
Ex-security guard arrested for assault, theft in Phuket
PHUKET: An ex-security guard at a hotel in Pa Khlok was arrested and charged for assault as well as theft and possession of an illegal firearm and drugs, on Tuesday after he beat up a hotel staff member and robbed her last week. Thalang Police apprehended the suspect, Panya Jara, 28, at his rental house in Pa Khlok where they…
- Thai Life
On Deck: Phuket’s East coast offers year-round activities
PHUKET: Phuket’s tourism is very much West coast focused. The beaches are whiter and sandier, resorts and hotels aplenty. The East coast, however, is more of a year-round destination. What it may lack in beaches, it makes up for in islands, most of which are easily accessible by boat. This renewed interest is driven by the marine industry. Phuket’s four…
- Phuket News
Drug suspects escape police custody in Phuket
PHUKET: Police are hunting for two suspects who escaped custody and fled from a police vehicle at a traffic light on the way to the station early on Tuesday morning. “Suriya Lakpech and Wasurat Malikabutr, both 21, had initially been arrested in front of the Vijit Resort in Rawai after officers asked to inspect their belongings because they looked ‘suspicious’.…
- Hua Hin News
Illegal Chinese tour guide arrested in Phuket
PHUKET: A Chinese tour guide who abandoned a bus full of tourists at the side of the road in Phang Nga on Tuesday (story here) was arrested in Phuket yesterday. Ms Ammy, whose real name police later learned to be Huang Ling, was arrested for illegally working as a tour guide without permission. “After the incident in Phang Nga, we…
- Hua Hin News
Illegal Chinese tour guide wanted for abandoning Phuket tour group
PHUKET: Police are hunting for an illegal Chinese tour guide who abandoned 24 Chinese tourists at the side of the road in Phang Nga yesterday evening after arguing with them about money. The tourist police received a report of the incident from the Chinese Consul in Phuket at about 7pm. The tourists had called the consulate for help after they…
- Phuket News
Phuket-based Siam Real Estate to go head to head in Full Metal Dojo
PHUKET: Kingdom Co Ltd, drivers of Full Metal Dojo (FMD), a favorite Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion, has announced an innovative new sponsorship deal that pits two rival real estate firms against each other in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA). Competing agencies Siam Real Estate from Phuket and BKK BestLife will fight it out on FMD’s Facebook page…
- Thai Life
Gardening: Shades of white in Phuket gardens
PHUKET: White has many associations, including innocence and purity. On the down side, it represents coldness and sterility. In Thailand, judging by the dominance of white in floral garlands, it brings good fortune. Most lucky leis contain white flowers – buds of jasmine and milkweed, plus a pair of creamy magnolias for good measure. The white spectrum is equally well…
- Business News
Business Buzz: Email marketing missing the mark
PHUKET: Recently, my business partner and I have been analyzing email marketing and what came to light was quite a surprise. He is a systems engineer so it is fair to say his level of knowledge of IT far surpasses my own. We were collaborating on our latest project and the issue of email marketing and whether it was effective…
- Phuket News
American school teacher injured in Phuket collision
PHUKET: A newly-appointed American school teacher at Kajonkiet International School (KIS) Phuket was injured in a motorbike crash with a car in Kathu this morning. “The accident occurred at about 8:30am near the U-turn on Phra Phuket Kaew road. We found a damaged white Honda City and Yamaha Nuovo on the road,” said Capt Watthathorn Bumrungthin of Kathu Police. “The…
- Phuket News
Phuket gov launches clean-up campaign
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong yesterday launched a campaign titled ‘Clean Phuket with our Hands and Hearts’, as promised during his first ‘Governor meets Media’ gathering at Phuket Provincial Hall last month (story here). The week-long campaign, that is to last until Sunday, will be held each month, the governor stated. “As Phuket is an international tourism destination, it is…
- Pattaya News
‘AD’vertorial: Buy one, get two free, plus lunch
PHUKET: There’s no such thing as a free lunch but you can easily buy one [sic] with the savings you get on Free Classifieds (what?) in both the Phuket Gazette and Nation newspapers this month. When you enter a basic text-only ad in the Gazette Online (560 baht), that ad runs also, word for word and free of charge, in…
- Phuket News
Plastic bottle blamed for Phuket Town car flip
PHUKET: In a crash that is being blamed on a plastic bottle, a car in Phuket Town flipped over onto its roof yesterday afternoon after the driver lost control at a traffic stop. “We arrived at the scene, on Komaraphat Roat near the Phuket City Municipality pawnshop, to see a silver Honda City sedan lying upside down on the side…
- Property
Property Watch: Thailand at a crossroads in property investment
PHUKET: Thailand is and will remain an attractive property market to invest in. The geography lends itself well to a good quality of life, especially if income to support that lifestyle isn’t an issue. However, it does have neighboring competition and is in the process of assessing its options to revise laws to continue developing its economy. The way in…
- Phuket News
Building catches fire in Patong, 100,000 baht in damages
PHUKET: A four-storey building caught fire last night on Rat-U-thit 200 Pi road in Patong, resulting in about 100,000 baht’s worth of damages. Police officers held back traffic and tourists as firefighters battled the flames for about 30 minutes. Lt Col Jongserm Preecha of Patong Police confirmed that only the first floor of the building had been damaged. “There were…
- Cannabis News
Motorbike trio arrested for stealing from Chinese tourist, marijuana
PHUKET: Three men were arrested yesterday in Phuket town with assorted currencies amounting to at least 200,000 baht as well as electronics they stole from a Chinese tourist’s hotel room in Patong. The men were also in possession of marijuana. Lt Col Pongpichan Chayanonpiriya of the Patong Police confirmed to Phuket Gazette reporters that Thanakorn Akarabut, 24; Harich Dada, 18;…
- Phuket News
No refund for B6.7mn house in shambles
PHUKET: Dhamrongtham center staff and representatives of the Engineering Institute of Thailand on Thursday inspected a ‘questionable’ housing project in Koh Kaew. The house, backed by a well-known developer, has reportedly been in shambles for about three years. Sintichai Jitkam and Sunisa Jitkham in November last year filed a complaint after purchasing the house in the development for 6.7 million…
- 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…
- Phuket News
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…
- Opinion
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…
- 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…
- Phuket News
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…
- Phuket News
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…
- Phuket News
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…
- Phuket News
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…
