Legacy Phuket Gazette

Legacy Phuket Gazette

Archiving articles from the Phuket Gazette circa 1998 - 2017. View the Phuket Gazette online archive and Digital Gazette PDF Prints.
  • World NewsPhuket Gazette World News: Boston mourns marathon bomb victims

    Phuket Gazette World News: Boston mourns marathon bomb victims

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Boy, 8, ‘dream daughter’, Chinese citizen killed in Boston blasts Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Neighbours gathered around a chalk rainbow on a sidewalk outside 8-year-old Martin Richard’s home while friends of Krystle Campbell, 29, posted notes on Facebook, all grieving on Tuesday for two of…

  • Phuket NewsAll safe after dive boat sinks in Similan National Park freak storm

    All safe after dive boat sinks in Similan National Park freak storm

    PHUKET: A dive boat with 30* people on board sank today in the Similan National Park after being caught in a freak storm about four miles off Koh Ta Chai. All passengers and crew were immediately and safely evacuated from the boat after the captain and tour leader launched an emergency raft, Stefan Kaesweber of Khao Lak Scuba Adventures told…

  • Thailand NewsLadyboy nabbed for topless Songkran show

    Ladyboy nabbed for topless Songkran show

    PHUKET: A deeply-invested transsexual was nabbed by Pattaya Police for dancing topless during Songkran celebrations this past week. Narinmek Phaophan, 21, told cops he/she had spent half a million baht on surgery to be transformed into a woman – and she wanted people to see the results of her investment. On April 13, police were tipped off by local people…

  • Business NewsPhuket Finance: Note the contrarian investor

    Phuket Finance: Note the contrarian investor

    PHUKET: Contrarian investors are those who generally do the opposite of what the majority do. There are many forms, but basically they can all be summed up by the old Wall Street adage, “Buy Low, Sell High.” As simple and as logical as this advice sounds, in practice the majority of investors in fact do the opposite. The lonely contrarians…

  • Phuket NewsGimp thief not gold shop killer; identified by chicken-frying ladyboy

    Gimp thief not gold shop killer; identified by chicken-frying ladyboy

    PHUKET: It was briefly thought they had snared the Phuket gold shop killer (story here) when Karon Police yesterday arrested a burglar with a limp – one of the key characteristics in the search for the murderer. Phuket City policeman Lt Col Prawit Engchuan joined the questioning of the suspect but said afterward, “We determined that he has no connection…

  • PropertyProperty prices “under the gun’

    Property prices “under the gun’

    PHUKET: I thought not once, but twice about putting the word gun into the title of this article, but why not? Live vicariously. Guns and real estate, now that’s an entirely different story altogether. Slowly stirring brown sugar into my inaugural morning café latte, the sound of small talk is in the air. Forget that toxic mock sweet stuff, I…

  • Business NewsThe rise of technical goods

    The rise of technical goods

    PHUKET: The Technical Consumer Goods (TCG) market in Thailand last year saw positive annual growth in six out of seven sectors tracked by a recent regional market survey. The strong growth of TCG, which includes everything from smart phones, cameras, washing machines and cooking appliances, to TVs, tablets, air coolers and office equipment, was highlighted in a recent survey and…

  • Business NewsTesco shopping online

    Tesco shopping online

    PHUKET: Leading domestic hypermarket chain Tesco Lotus last week launched online grocery shopping and home delivery services for its customers in Bangkok. Asked if the retail giant had plans to launch such services in Phuket, Ms Salinla Seehaphan, Corporate Affairs Director, revealed that: “Our plan is to offer a convenient online grocery shopping service to all of our customers in…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Police release graphic YouTube video of gold shop robbery

    Phuket Police release graphic YouTube video of gold shop robbery

    PHUKET: In an effort to identify an armed robber of a Phuket gold shop, police have released a graphic YouTube video of the man entering the C.P. Gold Master & Jewelry store and shooting dead one of the customers (story here). In addition to releasing the video compiled from CCTV camera footage, police will be plastering Phuket with wanted posters,…

  • Phuket NewsEight injured as Phuket bus overturns in Krabi

    Eight injured as Phuket bus overturns in Krabi

    PHUKET: Eight passengers received minor injuries when a bus heading from Phuket to Trang ran off the road and overturned in Krabi on Sunday.The accident occurred at about 2pm, Lt Panom Parnmart of Ao Luek Police told the Phuket Gazette.“Rescue workers rushed to the scene to find the bus on its roof in a roadside ditch about two meters deep.“Arjara…

  • World NewsPhuket Gazette World News: Bombs devastate Boston Marathon, killing 3

    Phuket Gazette World News: Bombs devastate Boston Marathon, killing 3

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Bombs kill three people, wound dozens at Boston Marathon Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Two bombs ripped through the crowd at the finish line of the Boston Marathon yesterday, killing three people and injuring dozens, with some victims suffering amputations in what a White House official said would…

  • Phuket NewsAll silent on Phuket Tourist Police kratom shootout | Thaiger

    All silent on Phuket Tourist Police kratom shootout

    PHUKET: The two survivors of a lethal shootout at an apartment near Phuket Town last month have both refused to give police statements describing the events that led to the fatal gunfight. Sen Sgt Maj Pinchai Piyadilok of the Phuket Tourist Police remains at the Prince of Songkla University Hospital in Haad Yai, where he is recovering from gunshot wounds…

  • World NewsPhuket Gazette World News Exclusive: Lion Air crash pilot felt jet ‘dragged’ from sky

    Phuket Gazette World News Exclusive: Lion Air crash pilot felt jet ‘dragged’ from sky

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Exclusive: Lion Air crash pilot felt jet ‘dragged’ from sky Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The pilot whose Indonesian jet slumped into the sea while trying to land in Bali has described how he felt it “dragged” down by wind while he struggled to regain control, a person…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket seawalkers deny destroying corals

    Phuket seawalkers deny destroying corals

    PHUKET: About 200 square meters of coral have been damaged off Khai Nai island in Phang Nga, say local marine officials, in order to create a pathway for tourists to walk on the sea floor. The manager of the seawalking company at the site, however, has defended his business, telling the Phuket Gazette it is environmentally friendly and had not…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Songkran: Zero road deaths through Day 3

    Phuket Songkran: Zero road deaths through Day 3

    PHUKET: Phuket maintained its zero death toll for Day 3 of the Seven Days of Danger national road-safety campaign for the Songkran Thai new year holiday period, while nationwide the death toll grew to 173. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Phuket office (DDPM-Phuket), which collates all road accident statistics during the campaign, reported nine motorbike accidents, injuring 10…

  • World NewsPhuket Gazette World News: All safe after Bali airplane ditches into water

    Phuket Gazette World News: All safe after Bali airplane ditches into water

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community All passengers safe as Lion Air plane lands in water in Bali Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: All 108 passengers and crew survived when a Lion Air Boeing 737 missed the runway on the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Saturday and landed in shallow water, an airline…

  • Phuket NewsFrench tourist cries robbed after Phuket spending spree

    French tourist cries robbed after Phuket spending spree

    PHUKET: A French tourist, afraid his wife would be angry at him for spending too much money on holiday in Phuket, was arrested yesterday for filing a false report to police, in which he claimed he was robbed by two teenagers. The Frenchman, named by police as Marc Forestier, 54, arrived at Karon Police Station at about 2:30pm to file…

  • Phuket NewsFilipino caught with 7kg of crystal meth at Phuket Airport

    Filipino caught with 7kg of crystal meth at Phuket Airport

    PHUKET: Customs officials at Phuket International Airport yesterday arrested a Philippine national trying to smuggle seven kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (ya ice) into the country.Officials estimated that the drugs netted had a street value of 30 million baht.The suspect, identified by police as Sonny Pasong Cornel, 31, initially claimed he had no knowledge the bag he was carrying contained drugs.However,…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket dignatories mark Thai New Year with Songkran mass blessing ceremony

    Phuket dignatories mark Thai New Year with Songkran mass blessing ceremony

    PHUKET: Hundreds of people gathered at Saphan Hin this morning to join a Songkran blessing ceremony to celebrate their Thai New Year.At 7am, Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut chaired the opening of the ceremony, joined by Vice Governors Sommai Prijasilpa, Somkiet Sangkaosuttirak and Chamroen Tipayapongtada.Among the other leading Phuket figures to join the mass ceremony, offering alms to 399 monks, were…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Songkran starts early, Governor urges ‘Safety First’

    Phuket Songkran starts early, Governor urges ‘Safety First’

    PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut has called for all officers island-wide to make public safety their top priority during the Songkran celebrations, which unofficially started early in Patong late today.Governor Maitri specifically ordered that extra officers be posted at the six official water-play zones on the island: – Saphan Hin Park, Phuket Town– Kata-Karon beachfront– Soi Bangla and Patong beach…

  • Phuket NewsUnidentified body found off Phuket Deep Sea Port

    Unidentified body found off Phuket Deep Sea Port

    PHUKET: Police are trying to determine the identity of a man whose body was discovered off Cape Panwa, on the east coast of Phuket, today.Local villagers found the body floating near the channel marker to the Deep Sea Port at about 12:30pm.“We believe the body was in the water for more than five days before it was found,” Sub Lt…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Songkran: Four accidents but no deaths on Day 1

    Phuket Songkran: Four accidents but no deaths on Day 1

    PHUKET: The first 24 hours of Phuket Seven Days of Danger road-safety campaign for the Songkran holidays passed with zero deaths.The annual road-safety campaign this year began at midnight Wednesday night.In the 24 hours that followed there were four accidents, including two involving drinking and driving, according to statistics released today by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Phuket…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Marine officials bolster sea safety for Songkran

    Phuket Marine officials bolster sea safety for Songkran

    PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Office and Marine Police joined forces yesterday to launch a water-safety campaign aimed at ensuring the well-being of beachgoers and boaters during the Songkran holidays.“Our mission is to be on hand to help people and decrease the risk of marine accidents during the Seven Days of Danger,” said Phuket Marine Police Inspector Chatchai Sakdee, who was…

  • OpinionPhuket Opinion: Let Songkran sanity prevail

    Phuket Opinion: Let Songkran sanity prevail

    PHUKET: As this edition arrives at newsstands across the island, readers can judge for themselves whether the Royal Thai Police are adequately enforcing the controversial nationwide ban on using pickups and other conveyances to fuel roadside water fights over the Songkran holidays.We sincerely hope that the ban will have a significant impact on the number of deaths and injuries related…

  • Phuket NewsThe Formula 1 soap opera

    The Formula 1 soap opera

    PHUKET: In the lead up to Shanghai, Formula 1 is full of questions. Can McLaren possibly get it together? The news says “no”, but I think they could surprise us. We are all hoping that Force India will be a force to reckon with, after they sort out the problem with their nuts. Lotus will be intending to get back…

  • Phuket NewsThe fall of sporting idols

    The fall of sporting idols

    PHUKET: Sports stars are among some of the most revered men and women on the planet. Those who excel at their chosen sport are seen as gods among us mere mortals and they are rewarded accordingly. But a fall from grace for someone at the top of their game is viewed with as much, if not more, interest than any…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket’s ACYC gives notice of race

    Phuket’s ACYC gives notice of race

    PHUKET: The Ao Chalong Yacht Club (ACYC) has announced the 2013 ACYC Keel Boat and Multihull Club Championship Race Series 1 – FCI Watermaker Series. The fourth race is this Sunday, April 14. Eligibility and entry: The series is open to all keel yachts and multihulls with an overall length greater than six meters. Eligible boats may enter by completing…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket beefs up bus services, driver drug tests for Songkran

    Phuket beefs up bus services, driver drug tests for Songkran

    PHUKET: More buses and drug and alcohol tests for drivers have been ordered at the Phuket bus terminal in Rassada to ensure that everyone can travel, and travel safely, during the Songkran holidays.The Phuket Land Transportation Office (PLTO) added 20 per cent more buses to accommodate the crowds returning home for the Thai new year and make sure no one…

  • Thai LifeOn the menu: Trisara hosts Mozaic’s Chef James Ephraim

    On the menu: Trisara hosts Mozaic’s Chef James Ephraim

    PHUKET: There have been some pretty spectacular sunsets in Phuket in recent weeks, or maybe I have just been fortunate enough to witness them from spectacular locations. The Trisara’s ‘Seafood’ restaurant is one of those places that reaffirm the reasons one has chosen to live on a tropical island. Another island that has glorious sunsets is Bali, and I am…

  • Thai LifePhuket Gardening: From fetid to fragrant

    Phuket Gardening: From fetid to fragrant

    PHUKET: Shakespeare’s father, John, was fined for digging a “midden” in front of his neighbor’s house. Very unneighborly. Today the word has almost vanished from the English language as modern sanitation systems have replaced the foul cesspits of yesteryear. But make no mistake, a “midden” is neither pleasant to behold nor smell. Originally a hole in the ground, a dump…