Legacy Phuket Gazette
- Phuket News
Police silent on fatal Phuket tour bus crash probe
PHUKET: Police have closed the books on a fatal crash in Kamala that left nine Russian tourists injured after their tour bus collided with a Ford Fiesta (story here). The 37-year-old driver of the car, Tantima Thaworn, later succumbed to her injuries (story here). “The case was closed shortly after the death of Ms Tantima,” said Lt Col Nanon Pitakkultorn…
- Business News
Challenge of importing the food Phuket loves
PHUKET: What is the first thing most expats start to miss from their home country? Family? Maybe for some, but for most it’s food. Luckily, the days when all you could eat in Thailand was the local cuisine are gone. Today, buying a piece of Dutch cheese, a few slices of Italian ham or some French paté is as easy…
- Opinion
Opinion: Phuket prejudice against the law
PHUKET: The fatal shot fired by Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri, was not heard around the world, but the repercussions of slaying an unarmed black man, Michael Brown, were. The shooting, trial and subsequent similar situation in New York, focused all major American and international media on issues that economically depressed black communities face in the US. The war of…
- Phuket News
Phuket’s top police get shake-up: eight transferred
PHUKET: A sweeping transfer of eight of the island’s 10 police superintendents comes with short notice as the Phuket high season charges into 2015. Public Affairs Division of the Royal Thai Police announced the orders this morning, though the transferees were officially confirmed by Region 8 Police Commissioner Decha Budnampeth on January 9. “I am surprised that so many of…
- Phuket News
Legal Phuket jet-ski operators threaten to join illegal cowboys
PHUKET: Fed up with illegal jet-ski operators serving tourists at Bang Tao Beach, the local legal jet-ski brigade yesterday threatened to abandon all legalities and join the jet-ski cowboys. Unregistered and uninsured jet-skis and parasail boats returned to the beach in November, said Surachai Yomdee, head of the Bang Tao Jet-Ski Club. “The illegal jet-skis and parasail boats do not…
- Phuket News
Water tanker crushes pick-up truck in Kamala villa estate
PHUKET: A water tanker rolled backwards down a hill and crushed a pick-up truck outside a residence at Jomchang Villa in Kamala yesterday afternoon, only moments after the pick-up driver got out of her vehicle. Kamala Police officers called to the scene were told by witnesses that the pick-up driver, who declined to be named, had escaped almost certain death…
- Phuket News
Russian hitchhikers spared dangerous nighttime jungle trek
PHUKET: Two Russian women were spared the ordeal of becoming lost in the Phang Nga jungle after a police officer realized that they were heading for potential trouble last night. Named by police only as Ms Susan, 21, and Ms Vilka, 23, the women were spotted heading into the jungle at Khao Nang Hong, a 400-meter-high mountain eco-tourist site. The…
- Property
Expats target market for Thalang residential housing project
PHUKET: Following the completion of phase one of 59 European-style tropical townhomes in Thalang under the banner “Baan Tak r Kard”, local developer Living Vis has launched the second phase of its residential development under the brand “r homes”, in a bid to attract more expat buyers. “More than 80 per cent of the two- and three-bedroom homes in phase…
- Thailand News
Police probed for opening fire on suspected human-trafficking boat off Ranong
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Police probed for opening fire on suspected human-trafficking boat off Ranong The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Police yesterday confirmed they were investigating an incident last Wednesday in which a Ranong police boat opened fire on a fishing boat in the Andaman Sea. National police spokesman…
- Thailand News
Former Pheu Thai MP on B11mn fraud charge
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Former Pheu Thai MP on B11mn fraud charge The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Former Pheu Thai Party MP Chaowarin Latthasaksiri was arrested yesterday for allegedly trying to cheat a Cambodian firm out of 11 million baht. Immigration Police arrested Chaowarin at Suvarnabhumi Airport at noon,…
- Thailand News
Police accused of kidnap, Bt2m ransom from Korean gambling ring
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Police accused of kidnap, Bt2m ransom from Korean gambling ring The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Seven police officers will be summoned to explain their role over allegations that they demanded Bt2 million from South Koreans who have illegally operated online gambling services. Investigators are also…
- World News
Divers retrieve AirAsia ‘black box’, explosion theory questioned
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Divers retrieve AirAsia ‘black box’, explosion theory questioned Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Indonesian navy divers retrieved the black box flight data recorder from the wreck of an AirAsia passenger jet on Monday, a major step towards unravelling the cause of the crash that killed all…
- Hua Hin News
Rohingya woman dead, dozens of children among 98 trafficking victims
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Rohingya woman dead, dozens of children among 98 trafficking victims Reuters / The Nation PHUKET: One woman was found dead in the back of one of five vehicles being used to traffick 98 Rohingya through Phang Nga, north of Phuket, and were intercepted by police in…
- Phuket News
Phuket tourism business crackdown nets four companies
PHUKET: Officers have shut down four tour companies within the last two weeks, as the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) Phuket office cracks down on illegal tour practices. Sub Aqua Dive Center on January 5 was forced to stop providing snorkeling and diving excursions following the closure of Hou Hai Diver Co Ltd on December 31 (story here). “The…
- Phuket News
Siblings drown off Krabi on Children’s Day
PHUKET: A pair of siblings drowned after they were swept out to sea off Nopparat Thara Beach in Krabi on Children’s Day. Vimvipa Keawyai, 14, and her 12-year-old brother, Vongvut, were swimming with friends in the Son Canal, about 20 meters from their parents, when the accident occurred. “My wife and I stayed on the beach while the children went…
- Phuket News
Phuket cyclist arrested for robbing store with lighter gun
PHUKET: Police tracked down and arrested a known cyclist early this morning after he robbed his local Family Mart convenience store with a lighter gun to buy some beer a few hours earlier. Key to finding the suspect, Narin Gamegaeman, 26, was that he made his getaway on his bicycle, said Maj Col Thitirat Arsakij of the Thung Thong Police.…
- Phuket News
Man slain, body dumped in Phuket mangroves
PHUKET: Police are attempting to identify a man whose body was found in a mangrove swamp in northern Phuket late last night. A local fisherman discovered the body among mangroves in Tah Chat Chai, at the northern end of Mai Khao, at about 10:30pm. “The body is of an Asian male, dressed in a black t-shirt and purple shorts. He…
- Thai Life
Boating: New E-Visa on arrival for superyachts to Andamans
PHUKET: The Indian government has launched e-visas to enter the country at any of nine airports, a move that has been welcomed for facilitating visitors wanting to join their superyachts at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. “Visa on Arrival Facility is now available at nine airports in India for those planning or those interested in cruising the highly intriguing superyacht…
- Thailand News
Rows over energy issues heat up
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Rows over energy issues heat up The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Several energy issues are threatening to trigger serious conflicts between the government and communities this year. Just as activists, conservationists and local communities have expressed their firm intention to protect their environment from potentially…
- Thailand News
Bull elephant causing strife at Khao Yai
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Bull elephant causing strife at Khao Yai The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: In just 10 days, a wild bull elephant has damaged four vehicles and caused alarm among tourists at Khao Yai National Park. Fortunately, no one has been harmed in the two shocking encounters…
- Thai Life
Gardening: Citrus celebrities – limeys and limes
PHUKET: No discussion of the kingdom’s leading fruits would be complete without looking at the citrus family, which plays such an important role in Thai cooking. I recall that in England more years ago than I care to remember, bright-yellow, oval lemons were treasured objects. Cut open and squeezed over sugar, they were used for Shrove Tuesday pancakes, or added…
- Phuket News
Three foreign neighbors robbed in one night
PHUKET: Three foreign neighbors were robbed last night of cash and valuables amounting to more than 100,0000 baht. This morning, Thalang Police were called to the scene, the Baan Bang Rong Community. “The three bungalows are located next door to each other and were robbed sometime last night or early this morning,” said Thalang Police Superintendent Sirisak Wasasiri. “The owners…
- Phuket News
Safety, hygiene at Phuket worker camps to be regulated: Gov Nisit
PHUKET: A special committee will be set up to manage and oversee security and safety at Phuket’s numerous construction worker camps following a spate of violent clashes, Phuket Governer Nisit Jansomwong announced yesterday. The move follows a massive gang brawl on January 1 between construction workers from Cambodia and Myanmar at a camp for workers involved in the expansion of…
- Phuket News
Minivans bound for nearby provinces back at Bus Terminal 1
PHUKET: Those catching minivans from Phuket to nearby provinces now need to go to Bus Terminal 1, the old bus terminal, the Phuket Gazette was told this week. The change took place on December 15, after the National Council of Peace and Order (NCPO) received complaints from Phuket passengers. “Customers said that because Bus Terminal 2 is situated outside of…
- Thailand News
Stateless children make plea for Thai nationality, rights
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Stateless children make plea for Thai nationality, rights Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: As New Year and National Children’s Day gifts, homeless and migrant children in Thailand are asking for Thai nationality and basic rights. Kaloh Ma-yeur, a 21-year-old freshman at Loei Rajabhat University, recalled…
- Phuket News
Phuket driver’s licence tests start rolling toward privatization
PHUKET: The Department of Land Transport (DLT) has begun rolling out its campaign to privatize driving tests, with the goal of having private-company driving schools conduct all the practical and theory tests on the government’s behalf by 2017. People applying for their first driver’s licence will soon be able to watch the mandatory training video at a driving school instead…
- Phuket News
Video Report: Phuket International Hospital organizes charity run
PHUKET: Phuket International Hospital will hold its annual “Run for Health, Run for Charity Mini Marathon” this February 22, with the winners receiving trophies presented by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. “This is the third year that Phuket International Hospital has organized this event. It will be a great honor to have HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn taking…
- Thai Life
Looking back: Skulduggery in Ayutthaya
PHUKET: After Sukhothai, Ayutthaya was the second capital city of the Siamese Kingdom, founded in 1350. King Prasat Thong, who reigned from 1629 to 1656, was the founder of a new dynasty during the heydays of Ayutthaya. His father, Okya Sri Thammathirat, was King Songtham’s maternal uncle. King Prasat Thong himself held the title of Okya Sri Vorawong, a position…
- Opinion
Letter from the Governor: Let your children know you care
Nisit Jansomwong, 52, from Ratchaburi, landed on the island in October to take up the position of Phuket Governor. He has a master’s degree in administration from Chulalongkorn University, where he graduated with honors. Before coming to Phuket, Governor Nisit was governor of Ratchaburi province for one year. PHUKET: Children’s Day gives us the chance to show children just how…
- Thai Life
Excuse Buster: Man versus machine
PHUKET: Walk into any gym and you’ll find a mix of machine weights and free weights. Less than five years ago, the fitness industry was loving machine weights, boasting how good they were for building size and strength. This has its truths, but after a while people have started to realize the lack of movement and mobility they had with…
