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.
  • Phuket NewsEPL: Chelsea give Villa a blue Christmas

    EPL: Chelsea give Villa a blue Christmas

    Chelsea hit Villa for eight, leaders United held Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Chelsea, playing with a swagger missing for much of the season, routed Aston Villa 8-0 yesterday as Premier League leaders Manchester United wasted the chance to move six points clear after a 1-1 draw at Swansea City.Chelsea striker Fernando Torres began the goal glut after three minutes at…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket villager speaks out on Sydictive New Year beach party

    Phuket villager speaks out on Sydictive New Year beach party

    PHUKET: While the debate rages on over whether or not the Sydictive Element New Year Phuket beach party will move to Patong – despite already being granted permission to be held at Surin Beach – one local resident has spoken out about how the party would affect the beachfront community, for better and for worse. Somchai Prasongphon, 42, was born…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket child-exploitation gangs put in the spotlight

    Phuket child-exploitation gangs put in the spotlight

    PHUKET: A 12-year-old girl fleeing her captors to the safety of officials on Soi Bangla last week, has raised the ugly specter of Phuket becoming a prime human-trafficking and child-exploitation destination, according an international children’s rights agency. The girl, nicknamed “Aoi” to protect her identity, ran up to Patong Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukban and about 10 other officers on night…

  • OpinionPhuket Opinion: Family, the best defense against technology risks

    Phuket Opinion: Family, the best defense against technology risks

    PHUKET: With the holiday season upon us, we would like to encourage all of our readers to take a few moments to pause and reflect on how lucky we are to live in this incredible age of technology. Technology is perhaps the most notorious of double-edged swords. Shakespeare wrote famously in Hamlet that “…there is nothing either good or bad,…

  • Phuket NewsNo Phuket tsunami alert after Sumatra earthquake

    No Phuket tsunami alert after Sumatra earthquake

    PHUKET: No tsunami alert has been issued for Phuket or other provinces along the Andaman Coast following a 5.2 earthquake off the northern tip of Sumatra, Indonesia, at 10:50am today, the head of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Phuket office has confirmed. “The National Disaster Warning Center has not issued a tsunami warning alert. We expect that the…

  • Phuket NewsBad vibes over Phuket Sydictive party shift to Patong

    Bad vibes over Phuket Sydictive party shift to Patong

    PHUKET: Leading Phuket tourism figure Sarayuth Mallam has voiced grave concerns about the Sydictive Element New Year’s Eve beach party being moved from Surin Beach to Patong, citing strong resistance from local businesses and Patong Mayor Pian Keesin. “As far as I know, the party organizer wants to change the party venue from Surin Beach to Patong Beach since they…

  • Phuket NewsTsunami Memorial Wall ready for remembrance

    Tsunami Memorial Wall ready for remembrance

    PHUKET: The Phuket chapter of the US Navy League has announced that the Tsunami Memorial Wall, which in years past has fallen into a deplorable state, has been readied for this year’s tsunami remembrance service on December 26. The Navy League volunteered for the role of caretaker for the remembrance site last year, and the volunteers organized a community project…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Sports: Man Utd get Real in last 16 of Champions League

    Phuket Sports: Man Utd get Real in last 16 of Champions League

    Ronaldo returns to Man United in Champions League Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Cristiano Ronaldo will return with nine-time winners Real Madrid to Manchester United, where he developed into one of the world’s greatest forwards, and Lionel Messi’s Barcelona take on AC Milan in the Champions League last 16.Bayern Munich, last season’s beaten finalists, play Arsenal and Juventus take on surprise…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Sports: Fergie scoffs at talk of retirement for trio

    Phuket Sports: Fergie scoffs at talk of retirement for trio

    Ferguson scoffs at talk of Scholes retirement Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has dismissed media reports that his long-serving trio of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand will leave the Premier League leaders at the end of the season.After newspaper headlines had declared the end of an era, with reports that 38-year-old Scholes had told…

  • Phuket NewsAldhouse trial pending UK documents

    Aldhouse trial pending UK documents

    PHUKET: The trial of British national Lee Aldhouse, charged with the murder of former US Marine Dashawn Longfellow in Phuket in 2010, has yet to be put in motion as the Phuket Prosecutor’s Office is awaiting the arrival of further documentation from the UK, the Phuket Gazette has been told. Aldhouse confessed to police to stabbing Mr Longfellow, but denied…

  • Phuket NewsLadyboy survivor sole link to lethal Phuket motorbike crash mystery | Thaiger

    Ladyboy survivor sole link to lethal Phuket motorbike crash mystery

    PHUKET: Police have released the name of the man who died in a motorbike accident near Chalong Circle just after midnight on Wednesday as 51-year-old American tourist Theodore Paul Roe. Chalong Police Capt Thada Sodarak told the Phuket Gazette that he was notified of the accident, near the base of the hill near Friendship Beach, at 12:30am. “Mr Roe was…

  • Phuket NewsStranded Air Berlin travellers airlifted from Phuket

    Stranded Air Berlin travellers airlifted from Phuket

    PHUKET: All 249 Air Berlin passengers stranded in Phuket after their plane was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff last night have been airlifted off the island and are currently en route to their original destination: Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Prathuang Sornkham, Director at Phuket International Airport, told the Phuket Gazette that Air Berlin…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket yachties to honor Stafford Steer tonight | Thaiger

    Phuket yachties to honor Stafford Steer tonight

    PHUKET: The Ao Chalong Yacht Club (ACYC) will honor the memory of well-known Phuket expat Stafford Steer, who died of cancer on December 8, with a memorial this evening. “He was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer about four weeks ago in Brisbane hospital [in Queensland, Australia]. Tonight at the ACYC we will have a memorial get-together to honor him,” said…

  • Thai LifePhuket Pets: So… you’ve got a baby on the way

    Phuket Pets: So… you’ve got a baby on the way

    PHUKET: Having a baby is (apparently) a wonderful moment in one’s life. However, I’ve also heard that it can be quite stressful, emotional and very tiring. But, for those of you who also have dogs in the house, you need to think about them too. You are right to be concerned about your dog sniffing around the new addition. Just…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Airport closure leaves more than 1,000 stranded

    Phuket Airport closure leaves more than 1,000 stranded

    PHUKET: More than 1,000 passengers were stranded at Phuket International Airport last night after an emergency landing by an Air Berlin flight forced authorities to cancel all inbound and outbound flights. Air Berlin flight AB-7425 from Phuket to Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, took off from Phuket at its scheduled time of 9:26pm, but was forced to make…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket blood center needs donors for New Year

    Phuket blood center needs donors for New Year

    PHUKET: A New Year blood drive will start tapping veins to save lives on December 24, and will run to January 6 at the Phuket Regional Blood Center (PRBC). With the national road safety campaign of the deadly “Seven Days of Danger” just around the corner, anyone who wants to boost their karma as they head into the new year…

  • Phuket NewsEngine fire forces emergency landing at Phuket Airport

    Engine fire forces emergency landing at Phuket Airport

    PHUKET: An engine fire shortly after takeoff forced an Air Berlin flight to make an emergency landing at Phuket International Airport earlier tonight.All flights were diverted away from Phuket’s critical tourism portal while emergency crews evacuated the 247 passengers on board and attended to the disabled aircraft left stranded on the runway.The Air Berlin Airbus A330-200, serving flight AB-7425 from…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket artificial reef project continues off Kata, Karon bays

    Phuket artificial reef project continues off Kata, Karon bays

    PHUKET: The ongoing project to develop artificial reefs off the west coast of Phuket continued today as the process of dropping 1,880 concrete frames to the sea floor began off Karon Beach. Over the next several days, the concrete frames will be dropped in clusters over a total area of 24 square kilometers, stretching from the north end of Karon…

  • Thai LifeAsia Superyacht Rendezvous over for another year

    Asia Superyacht Rendezvous over for another year

    PHUKET: The final day of the Asia Superyacht Rendezvous started with the second race around the bay. Captains and crew were slightly concerned that the wind would be too light, but eventually it started to blow and the fleet set off.Twizzle finished first, just four boat lengths ahead of Yanneke Too, with Asia following closely behind in position three. Once…

  • World NewsWorld News: Ethnic Maya say tomorrow will just be another day

    World News: Ethnic Maya say tomorrow will just be another day

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Mayan Apocalypse nears, doomsday prophecy may “Not Be Real” Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Mayan calendar that ends tomorrow has prompted discussion of a possible Apocalypse but according to Yahoo.com the ancient people’s fabled date may not hold any weight. Yahoo is reporting that the…

  • Phuket NewsAndaman Pearl stung by Killer Bees

    Andaman Pearl stung by Killer Bees

    PHUKET: Phuket United suffered a 3-1 defeat to the Nonthaburi “KillerBees” FC in last night’s Thai Futsal Premier League (TFPL) match at their temporary home stadium at Fashion Island, Bangkok Andaman Pearl’s assistant coach, Mr Patt Srivijit, told the Phuket Gazette that confidence within the team was high before this game, after two successive wins against Prachin Futsul Club and…

  • Phuket NewsArson blamed for Phuket beach blaze

    Arson blamed for Phuket beach blaze

    PHUKET: A fire engulfed a small beachfront minimart at Surin Beach and spread to four other shops early this morning. Shop owner Man Thonglor, 41, suspects arson. Mr Man told the Phuket Gazette that he opened his store little over a year ago, but this was the second time his shop had caught afire. “I believe it was set on…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket 7-Eleven scythe robber arrested

    Phuket 7-Eleven scythe robber arrested

    PHUKET: A man nabbed by police for snatching a Frenchwoman’s bag on Tuesday confessed to having also robbed a Phuket 7-Eleven with a scythe multiple times this year. The suspect, Winai Soimuea, 26, was presented to the press at Phuket City Police Station in Phuket Town on Tuesday. Mr Winai was arrested shortly after grabbing the woman’s bag near Wat…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News: TAT expects bumper party for New Year

    Thailand News: TAT expects bumper party for New Year

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community TAT optimistic of new year spending after 2011 disaster Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Travelers during the New Year holidays are expected to spend more than 13.1 billion baht, says the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). That’s good news for the industry compared with last…

  • World NewsWorld News: White House outlines plans to “get the guns”

    World News: White House outlines plans to “get the guns”

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community White House readies gun-control plan as more children laid to rest Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The White House was set to reveal the first steps of a gun-control plan yesterday as the United States grieved for victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in…

  • World NewsWorld News: “Dear Santa” letters answered

    World News: “Dear Santa” letters answered

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community “Dear Santa” letters answered by U.S. Post Office program Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: One 13-year-old boy who sent a “Dear Santa” letter to the U.S. Post Office this year asked only for covers for his bed, “so I can stay warm this winter.” Another letter…

  • Business NewsPhuket Business: British Airways – 79 years of service to the Kingdom

    Phuket Business: British Airways – 79 years of service to the Kingdom

    PHUKET: After 79 years of service to Thailand, British Airways (BA) says it still sees the Kingdom as an important market because more executives, especially from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), will fly out to ink business deals.The airline will use its strong network to connect local businessmen not only to its home base in London, but also to other…

  • Business NewsPhuket Business: New “liberalization’ of aviation manufacturing

    Phuket Business: New “liberalization’ of aviation manufacturing

    PHUKET: A new government initiative to allow foreign investors to hold 70 per cent or more of a company manufacturing aviation parts will help promote Thailand as a regional repair center for the industry, says an executive at Thai Airways International.Danuj Bunnag, executive vice president of THAI’s commercial department, welcomed the plan and said it would help strengthen Thailand’s performance…

  • Thai LifePhuket Gardening: Gift-wrapped for gardeners

    Phuket Gardening: Gift-wrapped for gardeners

    PHUKET: Garden tools. Ah…Hardly romantic, but, even at Christmas, likely to be appreciated by the hands-on horticulturalist. At the risk of sounding sexist, more for the men in your life. A simple choice would be a pair of secateurs. It doesn’t matter if the intended recipient has a pair – she can always keep another pair handy in the car.…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Sports: F1 review – Upgrades, upsets and upstarts

    Phuket Sports: F1 review – Upgrades, upsets and upstarts

    PHUKET: The F1 2012 season was the longest ever, and six World Champions took part; the most ever. Pirelli advanced its ‘made to degrade’ rubber, and managing tyres became a critical driver attribute. The first half of the season was perhaps the most exciting ever. We saw seven different winners in seven races, at the end of which Lewis Hamilton…