Legacy Phuket Gazette
- Thailand News
Sky-blue robotic cat invades temple
SUPHAN BURI: A Temple in Suphan Buri province has become a national sensation after an unusual character was spotted hiding in its wall paintings: the Japanese cartoon character Doraemon. Noticing Doraemon’s huge popularity with Thai schoolchildren, artist Rakkiat Lertjitsakun added the sky-blue robotic cat to murals at Wat Samp Pa Siew in Muang district. Now Doraemon and his schoolboy friend…
- Phuket News
Phuket Police: Drug war crippled by slow test results
PHUKET: Procedural problems in drug testing are crippling efforts by the Phuket Police to suppress narcotics use on the island, a provincial committee on drug suppression was told last week. At the first annual meeting of the committee, held at Phuket Provincial Hall, Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha said central government policy on drug issues was straightforward and progress easy to…
- Phuket News
Mick Tonkin funeral set for Wat Prathong, Phuket
PHUKET: The funeral for well-known Phuket resident Mick Tonkin is now scheduled for Tuesday, February 8, at Wat Prathong in Thalang. The ceremony will start at 12 noon and be followed by a wake at the Black Cat restaurant, one of Mick’s favorite places, in Cherng Talay. For directions to Wat Prathong, see Google Maps and enter the search term:…
- Opinion
PHUKET OPINION: Guns and gangs not child’s play
PHUKET: Just hours before this editorial was written, friends of slain Phuket teenager Surachai (‘Neung’) Takuasook were burning his remains in the furnace of the crematorium in Baan Don village. (See front page story, current issue of the Phuket Gazette. Digital subscribers click here to download the full newspaper.) The shiny white coffin used to house Surachai’s body until it…
- Phuket News
Chinese New Year surge for Phuket tourism
PHUKET: Phuket is reaping the rewards of a huge surge in tourists for this year’s Chinese New Year. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects revenue generated over the festival period to top the eight-billion-baht mark nationwide, from both domestic and foreign markets. Reports from around the island point to occupancy rates hitting 90 percent in the three and four-star…
- Phuket News
Phuket’s 2011 Business Directory goes on sale today
PHUKET: The Gazette Guide for 2011 goes on sale this morning at vendors throughout Phuket and the Andaman region. With contact details of thousands of businesses classified into 142 different categories, the 368-page book is priced at just 50 baht. A list of our retailers in Phuket, Phang-nga, Khaolak, Krabi and Koh Samui is available here. Discounts are available on…
- Phuket News
Israelis offer Phuket tech and security support
PHUKET: The Israeli ambassador to Thailand was in Phuket yesterday and met Governor Tri Augkaradacha to offer assistance in airport security and water technology. Ambassador Itzhak Shoham told the governor that he would, on behalf of Israeli investors, like to offer support and knowledge of security systems to Airports of Thailand in their expansion of Phuket International Airport. Amb Shoham…
- Phuket News
Phuket puts on spectacular Chinese New Year show
PHUKET: Chinese New Year kicked off with a hail of fireworks and live performances by acrobats, dancers and some of Thailand’s top musical acts at Sanaam Chai field in Phuket Town yesterday evening. The event, hosted by the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), started at 4pm and saw thousands of people turn out for the food and entertainment. “This event…
- Phuket News
Popular Phuket expat resident Mick Tonkin is dead
PHUKET: The well-known Phuket businessman and computer software entrepreneur Mick Tonkin has died suddenly in Bangkok. Mick collapsed as he arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport early on Wednesday evening for a business meeting. Efforts to revive him at the scene and later in hospital were unsuccessful. It is understood he suffered a massive heart attack. Born in south London at the…
- Phuket News
Vachira Phuket Hospital opens outpatient clinic
PHUKET: Vachira Phuket Hospital, Phuket’s main government hospital located in Phuket Town, has opened an off-site outpatient clinic to ease the workload at the hospital’s main facility. “Vachira Phuket Hospital 2 was set up to help reduce the number of patients at Vachira Phuket Hospital, which is now up to 2,000 a day,” Hospital Director Dr Jessada Chungpaibulpatana told the…
- Phuket News
Phuket to host Poolasia Expo and Conference
PHUKET: The Poolasia Expo and Conference, billed as the first swimming pool and spa trade show in tropical Asia, will be held at Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa from March 4 to 6. Event organizer Silkwaters Media is inviting swimming pool companies, contractors, spa suppliers, architects, developers, hotels, resorts, apartment owners and managers, hospitals, and private investors to participate.…
- Phuket News
BREAKING NEWS: Phuket murder suspect Lee Aldhouse in court
PHUKET: Phuket “kickbox murder” suspect Lee Aldhouse appeared in Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Tuesday for an extradition hearing following a request from the Thai authorities, the UK Home Office has confirmed. He will remain in custody in the UK until at least March 1, when he will return to the same court for extradition proceedings, Sam Eversden of…
- Phuket News
Phuket “heinous” crimes up, murders down in 2010
PHUKET: There were 40 premeditated murders reported in Phuket in 2010, down from 45 in 2009, according to crime statistics released by the Phuket Provincial Police. The figures compare reported crime in five categories, along with arrest rates, over the two years. The first category, heinous crimes, saw a 36% increase overall, with 72 cases in 2009 increasing to 98…
- Thai Life
Phuket Property: Eight new projects approved
PHUKET: Construction of eight new property projects was approved at a meeting of a Phuket provincial committee on residential estate development last week. The meeting, held at the Phuket Land Office, was chaired by Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha. All of the eight projects considered by the committee were approved, namely: 1. Jomthong Thalang, by Jomthong Property Co Ltd 2. Promphun…
- Thai Life
OLD PHUKET: Moseying on down to Phuket’s old quarter
PHUKET: It was the American philosopher Henry David Thoreau who once said, “A morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.” With this in mind – and in light of Phuket Town’s recent bid for UN Heritage status – I forwent a line-in last Saturday morning in favor of making friends with my feet to go explore the old…
- Phuket News
Mystery body might be from Phi Phi: Phuket police
PHUKET: Police believe the body of the man found by a dive tour yesterday afternoon may have been blown across the bay from the popular tourist islands of Phi Phi or even Lanta. Chalong Police Duty Officer Tianchai Duangsuwan told the Phuket Gazette that the condition of the body indicated it had been in the water for several days. “We…
- Phuket News
Dead body discovered by Phuket dive boat tourists
PHUKET: A body was found floating in the sea by passengers on a Phuket dive boat this afternoon. The gruesome discovery was made in the waters between Koh Racha Yai and Chalong pier. Chalong Police told the Phuket Gazette that Marine Police have retrieved the body, which arrived at Chalong Pier about an hour ago. The boat, a Dive Chalong…
- Thai Life
Hungry in Phuket? It’s kebab time in Rawai
PHUKET: THE Kebab House in Rawai has been open for a little over a week, but locals are already dining there and love it. Here are a few reasons why… Location: Simple. Kebabed between Serenity Terraces and the turnoff for Friendship Beach on Wiset Road. The Döner Kebabs (chicken 85 baht, beef 120 baht): Many a mouthful of spit-roasted meat…
- Thai Life
Phuket Comedy club back for an encore
PHUKET: Following sell-out shows last year, the Phuket Punchline Comedy Club returns to the Holiday Inn Patong for its first show of 2011 on February 23. Three of the sharpest comedic minds on the UK comedy circuit will take to the stage. Among them is Nick Doody, rated as one of Britain’s most popular stand-up comedians. Nick has tickled funny…
- Thai Life
Phuket Bikers raise funds for Life Home Project
PHUKET: Phuket’s eight different motorcycle clubs came together at Nai Harn Lake last month to show off their big bikes, drink beer, sell the latest in biker fashion and, most importantly, to raise funds for the Life Home Project, Phuket’s shelter for women and children with HIV. “Super” Mark Johnson, founder of Phuket’s Bike Week, which draws thousands of biker…
- Thai Life
Phuket Mega-event: Bring on the Blues Rock Fest
PHUKET: The Phuket International Blues Rock Festival, now in its sixth year, will return to the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa in Karon from February 25-26. Curtis Salgado, one of the headline acts to play at the festival, has been nominated for the Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year award at the 2011 Blues Music Awards. The awards,…
- Thai Life
Phuket ‘Under 13s’ off to UK in run-up to Rugby World Cup
PHUKET: The Rugby World Cup 2011 takes center stage in September when 20 countries will battle it out to lift the Webb Ellis Cup. Before that, however, another rugby tournament will take place – one of far greater importance to a group of Phuket youngsters. Ten lucky players from the Phuket Lomas Under-13 team have been chosen to represent their…
- Thai Life
PHUKET NIPPLE ALERT: Staying abreast of nude on our beaches
PHUKET: NIPPLE-wielding beach lovers take note: You could find yourself spending a night in jail instead of getting that all-body tan if you break the law. Ignorance when it comes to nudism in Phuket, through my peepers, seems to be on the rise. Perked and sagging, jiggling and swinging – more and more Western boobs are turning heads on our…
- Phuket News
Phuket Rotary continues fire relief efforts
PHUKET: The Rotary Club of Patong Beach is continuing its drive to provide relief to about 120 people who lost their homes in the Patong fire last week. “The club has approved a 50,000-baht emergency fund and collected 6,300 baht from our own membership to help the people who lost their homes,” said Stan Bailey. “This money is being used…
- Phuket News
FC Phuket Division 1 fixtures released
PHUKET: FC Phuket will start their 2011 Division 1 campaign with an away game against Suphanburi on February 12. The match will mark the beginning of the 17-game season, during which Phuket’s ‘Southern Sea Kirin’ (FC Phuket’s official name) will play every other team in the division only once. Playing their first season under Surachai Jirasirichote, FC Phuket will be…
- Phuket News
Phuket Poll: Police tourist shelter the last resort?
PHUKET: The Tourist Police (TP) are planning to build a temporary shelter for ‘down-on-their-luck’ foreign tourists. The new facility will be constructed at the TP’s regional headquarters on Yaowarat Road in Phuket Town. But is the shelter really a good idea? Have your say by voting in the latest Phuket Gazette readers’ poll.
- Phuket News
Phuket in eye of national park corruption storm
PHUKET: Seven marine national parks for which Phuket is a major gateway for tourists will be investigated for alleged corruption in the collection of admission fees. A team officers to investigate the alleged corruption was selected on Saturday. Sunant Arunnopparat, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said an impartial official from the department would be…
- Phuket News
No fatalities as Phuket tour bus overturns
PHUKET: A tour bus carrying 17 Chinese tourists overturned last night after the driver allegedly lost control at the Tesco-Lotus “crossroads”, colliding with two other vehicles, and injuring seven people. Phuket City Police Duty Officer Teerawat Amnartcharoenying said the accident occurred around 8:30pm. At the scene, police found the overturned bus. Nearby was a sedan with a smashed front end…
- Phuket News
Phuket Drug Wars: Westin Siray Bay joins the fight
PHUKET: The Westin Siray Bay Resort and Spa has become the latest hotel to sign up for the Phuket City Police Department’s controversial “White Hotel” anti-drugs project, which includes mandatory drug tests for employees. Westin hotel manager Sean Raine last week signed the White Hotel memorandum of understanding (MoU), pledging to adopt the so-called “Triple No!” strategy in dealing with…
- Opinion
PHUKET OPINION: Why not support a bit of heart for unlucky tourists?
PHUKET: The plan by the Phuket Tourist Police to build a shelter for foreign tourists who fall on hard times is laudable and long overdue, as evidenced by the number of hard luck cases whose travails have been chronicled in the Phuket Gazette for many years. Exact details of the plan have yet to be revealed, but Ekachai Pramanakul, chief…
