- Phuket News
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…
- Phuket News
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…
- Phuket News
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…
- Phuket News
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…
- Phuket News
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…
- Phuket News
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…
- 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,…
- Thai Life
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.…
- Thai Life
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…
- Phuket News
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…
- Phuket News
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…
- Phuket News
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…
- Phuket News
‘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…
- 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…
- 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…
- Opinion
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…
- Phuket News
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…
- Phuket News
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…
- Phuket News
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…
- Phuket News
‘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…
- Phuket News
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…
- Phuket News
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…
- Thai Life
Gardening: A problem of identification
PHUKET: One of the more fascinating aspects of writing this column is that it brings you into contact with members of the local gardening fraternity. Some of the questions they pose are quite teasing. Take Chris, who sent me a photograph of a pot plant which has suddenly and inexplicably decided to bloom. He says, “I never really cared about…
- Koh Samui News
Samui Airport officials discuss noise pollution solution
SAMUI: Bangkok Airways higher-ups and government officials discussed yesterday the environmental impact of Samui Airport’s ever-increasing air traffic. A vice president of the airline, Narongchai Tanadchangsaeng, and his team met at the Samui Palm Beach Resort, during which Rangsan Tongyad, deputy chief administrator of Samui municipality, explained that he will work together with airport staff to figure out a solution.…
- Thai Life
Profile: Achirawit Churmung – Seeing beauty in black and white
PHUKET: Achirawit Churmung is currently working as a professional photographer as well as a university lecturer teaching photography courses at Prince of Songkla University and Phuket Rajabhat University. He is also one of the organizers of ‘The Quiet Beauty’, a photography exhibition being held in Phuket till the end of this month, featuring more than 70 black and white photographs…
- Phuket News
Former tour company staff member wanted for deceiving Malaysian travellers
KRABI: Police are hunting for a former employee of a tour company who escaped after allegedly scamming 23 Malaysian tourists in Krabi. Yesterday, a team of officers from the Krabi Tourist Police, led by Sub Lt Suwan Tuamsri, helped temporarily accommodate a teacher and 22 university students after their tour agent disappeared upon their arrival in Krabi on Tuesday. “The…
- Phuket News
Video: Two arrested for dragging woman behind motorbike during botched robbery attempt
SAMUI: Two motorcyclists who dragged a woman behind their motorbike while attempting to steal her bag at Chaweng Beach in Koh Samui last week were arrested early yesterday morning. The CCTV footage of the incident, which featured Kanitta Krawwer, 32, being dragged by her bag’s shoulder strap as the two men attempted to steal it from around her neck, went…
- Phuket News
“Illegally-planted’ coconut trees found on disputed Naka Noi land
PHUKET: Royal Forestry Department officers yesterday responded to a complaint regarding a plantation of coconut trees on public land at Naka Noi island, the ownership of which the Land Department had already revoked last year. The land dispute on the island first began in December 2015, when the Department of Special Investigations (DSI) responded to a complaint alleging the land’s…
- Phuket News
Songkran ends with four dead, 70 injured in Phuket
PHUKET: The annual Seven Days of Danger road-safety campaign during Songkran ended last night with a total of 67 accidents injuring 70 and killing four. The first death was on Saturday, when 37-year-old Bussaba Banviset fell from a tri-motorbike in Cherng Talay. She was riding without a helmet, and pronounced dead at Thalang Hospital. Yesterday, however, three were killed in…
- Phuket News
Special Report: Phuket hospitals facing huge losses from uninsured patients
PHUKET: There is no lack of evidence about the alarming number of tourist deaths in the ‘Land of Smiles’. According to the ‘Bureau of Prevention and Assistance in Tourist Fraud’, there was a whopping 54 per cent increase in tourist deaths in 2015 (latest data available) as compared to 2014. This figure includes tourists only. The actual number including expats…
