Legacy Phuket Gazette
- Phuket News
Interview with a Thai TRANSPAC sailor
PHUKET: Local sailor Mr Patinyakorn Buranrom is set to become the first Thai sailor to skipper a yacht in a major international yacht race when he competes this coming week in the Transpacific Yacht Race (TRANSPAC) from Los Angeles to Honolulu. Mr Patinyakorn Buranrom from Phuket, and a member of Ao Chalong Yacht Club, spoke to the Gazette about the…
- Phuket News
Nine Phuket students given anesthesia after suffering from Khao Lak “curse’
PHUKET: Nearly two dozen Phuket students were rushed to Patong Hospital this morning after they collapsed screaming and convulsing during morning assembly – three out of the nine students who were administered anesthesia by doctors at the hospital remain there. According to reports, the culprit seems to be a ghost in the tourist haven Khao Lak who was offended by…
- Phuket News
Phuket Grimes brothers’ karting season speeds up
PHUKET: Ben and Sam Grimes’ 125cc Junior Class karting season continues at a blistering pace. The brothers recently completed two rounds of the Thai National Championship and two rounds of the Rotax Asia Max Challenge (AMC) series, held in Malaysia. At round two of the Thai Championship in Saraburi, Ben qualified fourth with Sam coming in seventh. An erratic race…
- Phuket News
Retired Microsoft expat found dead in Phuket luxury villa pool
PHUKET: A retired Microsoft engineer was found dead this morning in his Phuket luxury villa pool located at Ao Makham.The body of the 69-year-old American expat was floating face down in the pool when police arrived at the scene.“He was wearing black swimming trunks. There was blood around his ear – but no trace of a struggle,” said Lt Anurak…
- Phuket News
Phuket Raceweek expects big fleet to blow in
PHUKET: The award-winning Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek is set to welcome a large multinational fleet of boats to its 10th edition, to be held July 17-21 at Cape Panwa Hotel off the Southeastern tip of the island. Over the last 12 months, regattas around the region have experienced a decline in entries, however, Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek looks…
- Phuket News
Phuket family man struggling with debt hangs himself
PHUKET: A 52-year-old Phuket ice cream vendor who was despondent over heavy debts was found hanged at his home in Baan Don, Thalang, yesterday.Police presume the death to be suicide.Rabieb Kasiraksa woke at 5:20am to find her husband Chinda hanged from a beam in the kitchen, said Lt Thani Petchswee of the Thalang Police.“When we arrived at the house, Mrs…
- Phuket News
Blaze engulfs Phuket cable yard
PHUKET: Fire broke out at the TT&T cable yard on Thepkrasattri Road in Koh Kaew last night, causing an estimated 10 million baht in damage. No injuries were reported. Firefighters arrived soon after 8pm to find the yard next to the TT&T main office building – located opposite the Isuzu showroom, north of Boat Lagoon (map here) – engulfed in…
- Thai Life
The iron man of whimsy – Phuket Books
PHUKET: David Sedaris is a classic example of the American Dream. In 1992, he was a 36-year-old failure. College dropout, dabbler in crystal meth, lonely homosexual, drifting through lowly odd jobs in Chicago, New York and his native Raleigh, North Carolina. Sedaris was reading excerpts from his diary in a Chicago club when he was discovered by a radio host…
- World News
Phuket Gazette World News: Egypt locked in standoff, millions protest; EU confronts US on spying; Aussies back Rudd; Iraq football bombing; Nigeria mass jailbreak
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Egypt locked in standoff after millions rally against Mursi Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Egypt was locked in a tense standoff on Monday after millions of protesters swarmed into the streets to demand the resignation of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi and militants set the ruling Muslim Brotherhood’s headquarters…
- Thailand News
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Govt won’t budge on rice price; Cabinet V sworn in; Cameras out in Deep South attack
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Govt won’t budge much on rice price Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Despite increasing pressure from farmers, the National Rice Policy Committee is unlikely to budge on the new rice-pledging price of Bt12,000 per tonne, due to financial burdens, a government source has revealed. Deputy Prime Minister and…
- Phuket News
Phuket Gazette World Sports: Brazil dominate Spain to win Confed Cup
Brazil crush 10-man Spain to win Confederations Cup Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Brazil humbled world and European Champions Spain with a crushing 3-0 win in the Confederations Cup final on Sunday, ending their opponents’ three-year record run of 29 unbeaten competitive matchesTwo goals from Fred, one either side of a stunning left-foot shot from Neymar, gave next year’s World Cup…
- Thailand News
Phuket Gazette Queer News: Bank robber throws OJ at terrified teller
PHUKET: While guns may be the weapon of choice for most bank robbers here in Phuket, one resourceful criminal managed to steal more than 200,000 baht from a branch of Bangkok Bank using something a little more innocuous: a bottle of orange juice. Cops announced the arrest of Kittisak Rueankon, 42, on June 16 after they found him hiding out…
- Phuket News
Thai police officer charged with human trafficking
PHUKET: A Phang Nga police officer has been charged with human trafficking following his reported involvement in a Rohingya woman being held captive and raped repeatedly for days, Kuraburi District Police Superintendent Weerasil Kwanseng confirmed to the Phuket Gazette this morning. The arrest of Sgt Maj Weerayuth Feuangfu (listed here) follows a 25-year-old Rohingya woman reporting to police that she…
- Phuket News
Patong ladyboys given stiff treatment, Phuket club shut down
PHUKET: The Dragon Club, an erection behind the Jungceylon shopping mall in Patong (map here), was shut down on Thursday night after it was found to be hosting lewd shows in addition to doing business without a required license. “We raided the entertainment venue at about 10:30pm and found a naked show being performed on stage,” Lt Col Nikorn of…
- Phuket News
Belgian expat stabbed by Thai girlfriend out of Phuket ICU
PHUKET: The 62-year-old Belgian expat who was stabbed multiple times by his Thai girlfriend earlier this week is out of intensive care, hospital staff have confirmed. Ferdinand Salden was stabbed repeatedly by his girlfriend of six years, Yossapa Janthep, 36, amid a violent domestic dispute at their Patong home on Wednesday night (story here). Mr Salden lapsed into a coma…
- Phuket News
Phuket Sports: Tyres, teams and tracks – F1
PHUKET: We are seven races down in a nineteen race season. It is a good time to reflect. Pirelli succumbed to pressure and ran Montreal on intermediates instead of softs on a surface as smooth as a worm’s belly. That proved what we all knew; with tyres that do not degrade on a smooth dry track, the fastest car will…
- Phuket News
Lions beat Wallabies by a whisker
PHUKET: The first Test against Australia on June 22 turned out to be a ferocious confrontation. At times, the pitch resembled a battlefield. Though the Lions held the initiative for long periods, the Wallabies came back strongly in the second half, and were awarded a last minute penalty that would have settled a bruising encounter in their favor. In the…
- Phuket News
Phuket FC look to skin Korat Swat Cats tonight
PHUKET: Fifth placed Phuket FC are in top form for their home match tonight against 6th placed Nakhon Ratchasima FC – the “Korat Swat Cats”. The match will be the 17th and final fixture of the Yamaha League One (YL1) 2013 season’s first half. Following the team’s 3rd round Thai FA Cup win over Ratchaburi on Wednesday (story here), an…
- Thailand News
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Gold rush as prices plummet; Illegal resorts slash forests; Thaksin passport questioned; MPs drive LGBT rights bill
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community New gold rush as prices plummet The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Savers nationwide are flocking to gold shops, enticed by the falling price of the precious metal, which yesterday tumbled to a 34-month low amid fears of an end to the US quantitative easing policy.Gold bar fell…
- Phuket News
Thai athletes prepare for battle at the AIMAG
PHUKET: Over 2,000 athletes from 45 countries, including 116 athletes from Thailand, will compete at the upcoming 2013 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG), to be held in Incheon, South Korea through to July 6.The event kicked off earlier this week. AIMAG is a multi-sport event held every two years and regulated by the Olympic Council of Asia. The…
- Cannabis News
Busted: Alleged drug dealer’s operation across from Phuket school
PHUKET: Police busted a Burmese drug dealer suspected of operating out of a house across the street from a Phuket school yesterday evening.Staking out a house across from Baan Kata School, Phuket Provincial Police officer Wanchai Palawan and his team waited for Anan Kanyarat, 36, to leave the residence before stopping and searching him.Police found 4.5 grams of marijuana on…
- Phuket News
Phuket expat, in death revealed as witness in shocking Sweden murders
PHUKET: The 57-year-old Swedish expat found dead in her home in Chalong earlier this month was a key witness to one of the most shocking murder trials in Sweden’s history. The body of Aino Marianne Seppala was found lying on a couch in her living room on June 10. There was no evidence of violence in the room, reported police…
- Opinion
Phuket Opinion: Promoting Islam for Phuket youths, tourists
Maroj Thongyon, a 66-year-old Phuket native, has been a member of the committee of the Phuket Islamic Council since 1990 and is president of the Foundation Nurul Islamiah. Two years ago he took the position of Imam at the Nurulislam mosque in Patong. Here, he talks about the loss of cultural identity among Phuket Muslim youth and the opportunity to…
- Phuket News
Phuket man steals from women to pay for women
PHUKET: Phuket Police on Wednesday arrested a thief who confessed to stealing mobile phones from women in order to pay for prostitutes.His most recent victim, Kanyakorn Nhoopong, reported to police on Wednesday that her mobile phone had been stolen from her clothing shop on Yaowarat Road.“I put my iPhone on a table in my shop,” Ms Kanyakorn said.“There was a…
- Phuket News
False start for Phuket murder trial of Swedish man
PHUKET: The murder trial of Johan Sebastian Ljung – charged for his role in the killing of fellow Swedish national Maksim Schantz in Phuket two years ago – floundered yesterday after the case investigator failed to present himself in court. Mr Ljung, 25 at the time of the killing, was brought from Phuket Provincial Prison, located immediately next to the…
- Thai Life
Phuket Food: Inspired – Re-think Thai desserts [VIDEO]
PHUKET: A renaissance in the world of traditional Thai desserts has taken hold, away from the sand and seas of Phuket, in the heart of the province. Nestled in the center of the island, Ms Vachiraya “Yulie” Thitalohakul has turned back to her cultural heritage after years of working as a western-schooled patissiere. With over a decade of experience as…
- Opinion
Phuket Opinion: Exceptions, all of us
PHUKET: As children we were told that we were special, unique – exceptional. Those of us who have flocked to this little island have taken our parents’ words in stride and to heart. Individuals of every nationality in Phuket believe that they are an exception – an exception to everything: laws, moral creeds and consequences. I am without a doubt,…
- Phuket News
Special Report: Navy ships scuttled south of Phuket for fishy passengers
Special Report: Three Royal Thai Navy vessels have been scuttled in Krabi Province to provide superstructures for artificial reefs as part of the province’s bid to create underwater learning centers for divers and boost the Andaman province’s tourism industry. The Gazette’s Irfarn Jamdukor reports. PHUKET: The ships are designed to function as both artificial reefs – human-made underwater structures usually…
- Business News
Phuket Business Feature: Hydroponics – a happy medium
PHUKET: Located about a kilometer west of Chao Fah West road, en route to the Big Buddha, the DN hydroponic farm is not the bustling business operation it might at first seem. “I can supply large orders, but this is really just a hobby,” insists Pakdee “Doo” Khruthanang. Ms Pakdee’s primary hat is running her business, West Coast Divers, which…
- Phuket News
New Phuket detour to ease congestion at underpass construction site
PHUKET: Officials this week inspected the site of a new two-lane detour that will allow travellers between Patong and Chalong to bypass the Darasmuth Intersection in front of Central Festival, relieving congestion. The detour is in response to traffic jams at the intersection caused by the construction of the Darasmuth underpass (story here), said Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasipa. One…