Legacy Phuket Gazette
- Pattaya News
Phuket golfers set golf cart world record for charity
PHUKET: Avid Phuket golfers Mark Cameron and Graham Haslam have completed a world-record golf cart drive from Pattaya to Phuket, and are hoping to raise even more money for charity with an auction at the Hard Rock Cafe in Patong tomorrow night. “The cart will be up for auction at a starting bid of 200,000 baht, ‘slightly used’,” Mr Cameron…
- Phuket News
Phuket underpass late to grand opening
PHUKET: Despite the Darasamut Underpass being treated to a grand opening ceremony yesterday (story here), the island’s first underpass did not open to traffic until this afternoon. “We expected to open the underpass after the ceremony yesterday, but we had to fix the electric lane markers,” Samak Luedwonghad, director of the Phuket Highways Office, confirmed to the Phuket Gazette today.…
- Phuket News
Efforts continue to re-float beached Phuket yacht
PHUKET: The salvage team attempting to re-float the yacht still stranded on the sand at Kata Beach will make another attempt today, nearly a week after the boat was beached by a passing storm. The Inisfail of the Isles of Scilly was beached on Wednesday after the boat drifted on her anchor. Attempts by the two Australian men on board…
- Phuket News
Alleged Phuket baby rapist, killer surrenders to police
PHUKET: A male nanny wanted for the alleged rape and killing of a 1-year-old boy in Phuket Town surrendered to police last night. However, the 38-year-old man has denied the allegations. Police launched a manhunt for Somsak Yakob after he called the child’s mother to tell her that her son had fallen to his death. He left the baby’s battered…
- Phuket News
British tourist found dead in Patong hotel bathtub
PHUKET: Police believe that a combination of two common drugs, Alprazolam and Nytol, may have led to the death of a British man in the bathtub at his Patong hotel room last night. Hotel staffers at the Baan Yin Dee Boutique Resort on Muean Ngen Road found the body of Arif Abdul Khalid Ukaye, 33, in his guest room at…
- World News
Rolling Stone to be sued for retracted rape story
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Rolling Stone to be sued for retracted rape story Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The University of Virginia fraternity at the center of Rolling Stone’s retracted article “A Rape on Campus” said on Monday it planned to sue the magazine for what it called “reckless” reporting…
- Thailand News
Medical official slams new malpractice bill
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Medical official slams new malpractice bill The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Doctors are continuing their campaign against the controversial Protection of Victims of Medical Mistreatment Bill, saying the draft law will further complicate issues surrounding malpractice and sow seeds of reluctance among medical workers when…
- Thailand News
Malpractice bill touted as ‘best solution’
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Malpractice bill touted as ‘best solution’ The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Supporters of the Protection of Victims of Medical Mistreatment Bill see no reason that would lead to some doctors wanting it scrapped. “Every article in the bill will benefit doctors and improve patient-doctor relations,”…
- Thailand News
Russian PM arrives today on official visit
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Russian PM arrives today on official visit The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is to arrive in Bangkok today to cement ties with Thailand in various domains including politics, economy, security, energy, science and technology, education, tourism and culture. Foreign Minister…
- Thailand News
South Korea bans Thai airlines over safety concerns
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community South Korea bans Thai airlines over safety concerns The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: South Korea has started banning charter flights from Thailand over safety concerns after Thai negotiators from the Civil Aviation Department failed to convince officials to ease restrictions. A source in the Civil…
- Phuket News
Phuket manhunt launched for alleged rapist, baby killer
PHUKET: Police are hunting a male nanny who allegedly raped and killed a 1-year-old boy in Phuket Town on April 3. The 38-year-old man, Somsak Yakob, called the child’s mother on Friday night to tell her that the baby had fallen to his death. Mr Somsak met the baby’s mother, named by police only as ‘Mon’, that night at the…
- Phuket News
Former Miss Universe fights Phuket gibbon touts
PHUKET: Former Miss Universe Natalie Glebova visited Phuket today to raise public awareness about gibbons being illegally owned and used as props for photo opportunities. “As a celebrity, I can use my voice and my platform to spread awareness to other people, and say, ‘Hey, when you see gibbons, don’t take a picture with them’,” Ms Glebova said. The Russian-Canadian…
- Phuket News
Phuket’s first underpass officially open to traffic
PHUKET: The island’s first underpass, dubbed ‘Darasamuth Underpass’, officially opens to traffic today, after two years in the making. The grand opening event has drawn high-ranking officials, both local and national, to the site of the 600-million-baht underpass. In attendance were both Minister of Transport Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong and Minister of Finance Sommai Pasri, as well as Phuket…
- Phuket News
Armed robbers knock over Phuket spa for B500k
PHUKET: Police are hunting five armed robbers after they held up a spa in Phuket Town and made off with 500,000 baht cash last night. The robbery took place at about 9:45pm at Imperial Spa, near Chaofa Variety market, in Wichit, said Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Pinit Sirichai. There were about 10 Chinese customers present at the time, confirmed…
- Phuket News
Phuket Oilfield Classic golf tourney returns for charity
PHUKET: The 7th annual Arnco Phuket Oilfield Classic golf tournament will return on April 9-12, with players lining up to tee off at the Red Mountain and Loch Palm golf courses over two days. The competition will begin with the traditional Texas Scramble at Red Mountain on April 10 with an 18-hole shotgun start at 12:30pm. The next day, players…
- Koh Samui News
Phuket thieves arrested on Koh Samui
PHUKET: Two men wanted for robbery in Phuket and believed to be holding fake Turkish passports were arrested in Koh Samui yesterday. Murad Mohammad Yahya, 37, and Wesam Kamal Murad, 27, are accused of stealing a Rolex watch, cash and other valuables worth more than one million baht, as well as illegally entering Thailand and presenting fake identification. Both men…
- Business News
Finance: UK’s ever-shifting goalposts affecting Phuket expats, retirees
PHUKET: The UK government is continuing to shake things up for retirees and expatriate workers trying to make long-term plans for the post-work future with yet another shift of the goalposts, one of many in recent months. The most dramatic change announced in the new budget, to go into effect next year, is the reduction in lifetime allowance to one…
- Thai Life
Three cheers for Phuket’s Artsketeers
PHUKET: An art show displaying the talents of three British International School Phuket (BISP) students drew to a close last week, with the young artists feeling acceptance of their works and an urge to develop their art further. IB Visual Arts students Mimi Siriwangsanti, Jaratchai “JJ” Chongjaroenjai and Boram Lee, also known as the ‘Three Artsketeers’, debuted their works at…
- Thai Life
Books: The Johnson factor
PHUKET: On the eve of the 50th anniversary of Winston Churchill’s death appears The Churchill Factor (Johnson, Riverhead Books, New York, 2014, 390pp). I picked it not for the subject matter, having read William Manchester’s trilogy, one of several multi-volume biographies of the great man, but for the author, Boris Johnson. Someday it is conceivable that two roommates at Eton,…
- Thai Life
Phuket Boating: Excellence is served
PHUKET has much to be proud of in terms of excellence provided in the island’s marine and yachting industry, but taking excellence to the personal service level is the Galileo Yachting Superyacht Training Academy in Thalang. At a secluded high-end villa hidden among rubber trees near Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club, trainees undergo courses specifically tailored for careers onboard superyachts,…
- Food
Brunch with a bang at Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort
PHUKET: Tucked away in scenic Kamala you will find the Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort. With a beautiful view of the Andaman from up in your room or from the refreshing infinity pool down below, it’s clear that luxury is only steps away. This quality carries over to the resort’s newest attraction, the Sunday brunch, which kicked off on March 29.…
- Property
Property Watch: Evolution of property – Multi-pronged approach to cashing in on Phuket market
PHUKET: There is nothing wrong with short-term goals, striking while the iron is hot and being commercially opportunistic for a profit, if this is all balanced with a long- term view. This principle also applies to the property market in Phuket. I recently saw an adviser inform a client interested in property in Thailand, that the only investment a foreigner…
- Food
Going cuckoo for quality cocoa in our chocolates
PHUKET: Though the week-long Classic Belgian Gourmet Chocolate Of Legend event hosted by the JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa came to a close on March 13, some of the delicious creations remain. French chocolatier and pastry chef Jean-Marc Bernelin not only led classes and chocolate-making demonstrations, but he also created a number of creamy and dark chocolate masterpieces to…
- Property
Phuket’s re-sale market shows value
PHUKET: Most re-sale properties in Phuket are priced lower than comparable new developments, a trend clearly highlighted in the data accumulated in Siam Real Estate’s 2014 Phuket Residential Market Report. In Phuket and the rest of Thailand, most buyers prefer brand-new properties. There are many reasons for this: new properties have never been lived in; they offer the latest in…
- Pattaya News
Phuket FC take on Pattaya in Surakul showdown
PHUKET FC will be looking for all three points from their match against the Pattaya Dolphins at Surakul Stadium tomorrow in the hopes of delivering a double blow to their Yamaha League One rivals. Both teams are tied with seven points on the league table, and only goal difference separating the two sides. Pattaya is currently on top in seventh…
- Phuket News
Phuket flights unaffected as protest strikes at airport
PHUKET: No flights at Phuket International Airport have been affected by a protest by contracted baggage handlers and cabin cleaners at the airport this morning, the Phuket Gazette has confirmed. “All flights are continuing on schedule. No flights affected,” said airport director Monrudee Gettuphan. Workers for Pan Thai Air staged a protest over claims that the workers would be allowed…
- Thailand News
Cranes help lift moon bears out of Tiger Temple
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Cranes help lift moon bears out of Tiger Temple The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Forest rangers and wildlife protection officials yesterday retrieved six moon bears – a protected species – from dens at a famous temple in Kanchanaburi known to tourists as the Tiger Temple,…
- World News
Iran president views nuclear deal as start of new relationship with world
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Iran president views nuclear deal as start of new relationship with world Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Iran’s president said on Friday that a framework for a nuclear deal was just the first step toward building a new relationship with the world, after Iranians greeted the…
- Business News
Phuket expats better buckle up – more changes for UK pension plans
PHUKET: THE UK government is continuing to shake things up for retirees and expatriate workers trying to make long-term plans for the post-work future with yet another shift of the goalposts, one of many in recent months. The most dramatic change announced in the new budget, to go into effect next year, is the reduction in lifetime allowance to one…
- Phuket News
Motorbike selfie raises fears over Phuket driver safety
PHUKET: Fears of distracted Phuket drivers were heightened following a woman on a motorbike who was spotted taking a selfie as she was driving. “I saw a girl take a selfie on my way to Paklok the other day – this is incredibly dangerous,” Phuket Governor Nisit Jamsomwong told a meeting of about 100 officers who were preparing for the…
