- Phuket News
Scotsman found dead in Patong rental room
PHUKET: A Scottish tourist was found hanging from a wire inside the closet of his rental room in Patong this morning. The body of 45-year-old Michael William Smith, born in Edinburgh, was discovered by an employee of the residence and a friend, confirmed Lt Col Jongserm Preecha of the Patong Police. “His friend, who lives next door, came to ask…
- Phuket News
Phuket dolphinarium scores import permit
PHUKET: The unopened Nemo Dolphinarium in Chalong has secured permission from the Department of Fisheries in Bangkok to import dolphins and other marine animals for the hotly-contested Phuket attraction. “We are now working on importing the animals for the show. However, we have yet to confirm how many will be allowed for the performance,” said the dolphinarium project manager, who…
- Phuket News
Try your best at Laguna Tri-Fest
PHUKET: This year’s Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest (CLPTF) will once again see world champions compete for a slice of the race’s 25,000-euro prize purse. Following the success of its inaugural event in 2013 and the second edition last year, the iconic multi-sport, week-long event is set to take place again, with the 22nd Laguna Phuket Triathlon (LPT) on November 22…
- Phuket News
Filipino fugitives to be deported
PHUKET: Two of the Philippines’ most wanted’ fugitives were handed over to Phuket Immigration last night for deportation, Lt Col Jamroon Plaiduang confirmed today. Joel Reyes, former governor of Palawan, and his brother, Mario JR Reyes, former mayor of Coron, were arrested in Phuket on Sunday. The pair are wanted for the 2011 murder of environmental activist Gerry Ortega (story…
- Hua Hin News
China’s ‘fake’ Apple stores thrive ahead of new iPhone launch
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community China’s ‘fake’ Apple stores thrive ahead of new iPhone launch Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: On a bustling street in China’s southern boom town of Shenzhen, more than 30 storescarrying Apple Inc’s iconic white logos peddle pre-orders for the new iPhone, a gadget that has become…
- Thai Life
Island lunatics ready for Super Moon Super Blues
PHUKET: The super moon on Monday night is expected to draw out blues, jazz and rock lunatics for a night of music, drinks and soul food at Bliss Beach Club. The Super Blues Event will run from from 7pm to midnight, with Black & Blue, Pjae Stanley, K PJ and Bobby Blues all gracing the stage for the Rotary Club…
- Phuket News
Male nanny off the hook for alleged baby rape
PHUKET: The results of an autopsy confirmed that there were no signs that a baby boy who died in April had been raped by a male nanny, as had been alleged. Somsak Yakob, 38, was alleged to have raped and killed a 1-year-old boy in Phuket Town. He had called and told the child’s mother that her son had fallen…
- Phuket News
China-based social media to unlock door to FIT Chinese
PHUKET: Key Opinion Leaders (KOL) and Chinese-based social media applications are the key to unlocking access to the high-end Free Independent Travellers (FIT) for Phuket, experts told a packed room at the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Thailand seminar last week. The in-bound Chinese market for Thailand is booming with more arrivals between January and June this year than all…
- Phuket News
Thailand adopts new six-month multiple-entry tourist visa
PHUKET: In a move to boost tourism and drive the economy, Thailand has officially announced that it will start offering six-month multiple-entry tourist visas (METV) starting November 13. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ official website notes that the visas will cost 5,000 baht and will grant travellers multiple entries during a six-month stay, for up to 60 days per entry.…
- Phuket News
Ammonia leak scares Rawai locals
PHUKET: After a string of complaints, municipality officials found that a water plant in Rawai had been leaking ammonia into the main canal on Sunday. Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos received complaints from locals on Saturday, claiming that they suffered itchy eyes and sore noses after a strong ammonia smell was allegedly coming from The Crystal Drinking Water plant. “By the…
- Phuket News
Owner yet to come forward in Thalang bovicide
PHUKET: A woman escaped serious injury after her car collided with a cow in Thalang this morning. Thanyaluck Plongnirat, 26, was heading to the airport at about 5am when the accident occurred, Lt Kraisorn Boonprasop of the Thalang Police told the Phuket Gazette. “I was on my way to catch a flight when I saw a shadow try to pass…
- Phuket News
Andara’s new project bags 4 awards
PHUKET: Further entrenching the Andara brand on the island is the sweeping of four awards for the developer’s latest entry in Kamala, Andara Signature Resorts and Villas, at the Thailand Property Awards 2015 last week. Building up on the huge success of the 26 Andara Villas and 37 Andara Residences, the new phase was named Best Villa Development (Phuket); Best…
- Phuket News
Local cycling team takes top honors
PHUKET: The Phuket-based cycling group Team Fourteen won the 40 kilometer Team Time Trial held in Surat Thani on Sunday. Daniel Amby, Greg Dick, Sunny Teerasak and Jonathan Fowler completed the out-and-back flat course in a time of 54:40 with an average speed of 44.23km/h. A total of 29 teams from throughout Thailand competed in the event, which was sponsored…
- Thai Life
On Deck: Multihulls here, there, everywhere
PHUKET: Looking around the marinas and anchorages of Phuket, it is apparent that there has been a significant shift in the type of boats that call Phuket home. It’s not an entirely new trend, but the move from single to multiple hulls has certainly gathered steam in recent years. A healthy local boat building industry with a predisposition to multihulls…
- Phuket News
Officials reveal plans for Surin beachfront makeover
PHUKET: Cherng Talay Administration Organization (OrBorTor) President Ma-ann Samran has revealed his dream project for Surin’s beachfront after the current land encroachment cases have been settled. “Originally I planned to have a public park, activity space and a walkway, as well as a stadium,” Mr Ma-ann said. “The plan was submitted to the governor several months ago with an estimated…
- Phuket News
Philippines’ ‘most wanted’ arrested in Phuket
PHUKET: Former Palawan Governor Joel T Reyes and his brother Mario Reyes were arrested in Phuket on Sunday, according to a Philippine Daily Inquirer police source. The source, an official of Task Force Usig, the tracker group assigned to catch big-name fugitives from the Philippines, said that the Reyes brothers had long been wanted for the slaying of Palawan environmentalist…
- Phuket News
Property Watch: Pitfalls in Thai property market
PHUKET: Inevitably I have seen a fair amount of unethical and immoral behavior in Phuket connected to my work and the experiences of clients. This, combined with the huge changes in the Phuket business, infrastructure, development and demographics, has led me to conduct a quick mental check on where we stand in Phuket when it comes to morals, and how…
- Phuket News
A Decade Ago: Water woes, camel toes
PHUKET: Water woes – how many times has the Gazette used that headline in the last ten years? Well, it soaked through page one again as Phuket’s sole public reservoir in 2005 was ‘down to [its] last few drops’. Not too long ago, when those of us currently on the island were knee deep in flood waters, we found out…
- Phuket News
New 3D smartphone app aims to help tourists – but not in Phuket
PHUKET: Thailand’s Tourist Police launched a new smartphone application last week in hopes of improving service and convenience for tourists – but not for those on the tourist island of Phuket. The augmented reality application, ‘Thailand Tourist Trips and Tips AR Book’, enables tourists to use their smartphones to learn about the basics of Thai culture; to get tips on…
- Phuket News
Chinese tourists saved from sinking boat
PHUKET: More than a dozen Chinese tourists and a speedboat crew were safely rescued after their boat sank near Koh Kai this weekend. The 16 tourists were on their way to Phi Phi from Phuket when their speedboat, Papangkorn, struck an unknown object causing the boat to take on water, Phuket Marine Police Chief Panya Chaichana told the Phuket Gazette.…
- Phuket News
Phuket air pollution warning lifted
PHUKET: Officials have lifted an air quality health warning for the island after the haze caused by Indonesian wildfires decreased yesterday. “Air pollution levels dropped to an average of 94 micrograms per cubic meter for the last 24-hour period,” Pornsri Suthanarak, director of the Regional Environmental Office, told the Phuket Gazette. On Saturday, air pollution on the island maintained levels…
- Phuket News
“Stinky Squid’ shroom to bring good luck, says local
PHUKET: Locals believe that the rare ‘stinky squid’ mushroom they discovered in a jasmine pot after making merit in Chalong yesterday morning will bring them good luck. “My family and I had just returned to from Wat Chalong, and I was watering the plants when I saw the mushroom. It looked so weird to me: it was like a squid…
- Thai Life
Profile: “Under The Sun’ lips escape London
PHUKET: Lisa Allen emerged from the fantastical set of the Blue Peter garden, where she and a fellow BBC information technology employee had settled in for lunch. That was the day, or at least she thinks it was, in 1996 when she met the makeup artists for Celine Dion and the Bee Gees in the BBC Lottery Studio. “I decided…
- Opinion
Island View: Market for creativity
PHUKET: Having just moved to Phuket Old Town from Bangkok a couple of months ago, the huge difference between the great metropolis and this petite community is unavoidably on my mind. Of all its charming features, particularly the Sino-Portuguese architecture which harks back to the island’s long history, it is the Lard Yai Sunday Walking Street market which really delights…
- Phuket News
Illegal Phuket gun dealing conducted in closed Facebook groups
PHUKET: Closed groups on social media platforms are facilitating a boom in illegal factory built and homemade firearms, confirmed the head of the Phuket City Police this week. “A decade ago, people would need the know-how or a special connection to get their hands on a firearm. But now, with Google and YouTube, as well as social media, such as…
- Phuket News
Haze prompts officials to issue health warning
PHUKET: Phuket officials issued a health warning today, after air pollution on the island maintained levels above the public safety standard for the last 24 hours. “Phuket’s air pollution level has continuously been above 120 micrograms per cubic meter for a 24-hour period,” Pornsri Suthanarak, director of the Regional Environmental Office, told the Phuket Gazette. According to their research, Phuket…
- Phuket News
No health warning issued for Phuket haze
PHUKET: The Regional Environmental Office has yet to issue a health warning for the thick Indonesian haze that settled over Phuket today. However, the current air conditions on the island have raised concern among experts despite it being deemed safe. “We are monitoring it very carefully,” Pornsri Suthanarak, the director of the Regional Environmental Office told the Phuket Gazette. “We…
- Phuket News
Locals take road safety measures into own hands
PHUKET: Four local men used money from their own pockets to help fix dangerous sections of the bypass road near the Samkong underpass construction site yesterday. Kanin Raksaraj, Jiradet Sawatjan, Somsak Juapsri and Suthisak Srikong bought two bags of asphalt, costing 350 baht, to fix the road. “We have seen so many accidents happen over and over again on the…
- Phuket News
Movie museum to break ground in November
PHUKET: The island’s first-ever “movie museum” is expected to break ground in November, according to local officials. “The Department of Tourism will be leading the project,” Santi Pawai, director of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Phuket office, told the Phuket Gazette today. “The contract has been signed and the work is expected to start in November and be completed…
- Phuket News
Police: New governor likely to act on Surin Beach encroachment
PHUKET: Police expect Chamroen Tipayapongtada, who will be the governor of Phuket as of October 1, to strongly back their efforts to evict a number of Surin Beach clubs and businesses that are allegedly encroached on public land. “I don’t think it will take long once the new governor takes charge. He was previously a vice governor for the province…
