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Farang ‘possessed’ during Masong ritual at Vegetarian Festival
PHOTO: Facebook/Nanny Zaa Pk On the night of October 28, the final night of this year’s Phuket Vegetarian Festival, a Facebook user by the name of ‘Nanny Zaa Pk’, also known as Sutthicha Sutthakorn posted a 30 second video showing a western girl shaking her head with her eyes closed, in a similar fashion Masongs act when they claim they’re…
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Concrete truck falls 30 metres off cliff
The concrete truck was driven by 31 year old Suriya Pattasri fell off a 30 metre cliff yesterday (October 29), after he was unable to change the gear and the truck slipped backwards to the cliff near the deep-sea port in Wichit. Luckily, the driver jumped clear of the truck before it fell although he received some minor injuries in…
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Human bones found on hills overlooking Chalong
Human bones were found yesterday (October 28) by a local who was looking for wild jungle products. Local Toi Kerdsomboon found the skull under a big tree. The bones were about 230 metres up a hill nearby the dam and behind Luang Pu Supha temple. A team from Chalong police and Vachira Phuket Hospital inspected the bones but but were…
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Drugged-up driver trying to harm Rawai tourists
Late yesterday afternoon (October 27), a bus driver from a tour company, 35 year old Suthon Klasamuth, went ‘crazy’ after allegedly taking methamphetamine and tried to harm tourists and others gathered around the windmill viewpoint in Rawai overlooking Nai Harn Beach and the Andaman Sea. After being contacted, Rawai Municipality officers did their best to try and calm him down.…
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Fire Walk at Jui Tui Shrine in Phuket Town
One of the most astonishing rituals of the annual Vegetarian Festival is ‘Goi Hoi’, or fire walk. The event was arranged last night at the Jui Tui Tao Bo Keng Shrine in Phuket Town. About a hundred Masong gathered to participate in the event. At the ritual ground about 2,000 locals in white costume attending the vegetarian festival, as well…
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Phang Nga trips to Similan Islands cancelled on October 26
Wow Andaman Pier in Phang Nga which is the pier tourists, especially Chinese and Europeans, use to go to Similan Islands, announced today (October 25) they will be closed tomorrow, the Royal Cremation Day, to allow their staff to join the ceremony as attendees and volunteers. “We would like to announce to all tourists that Wow Andaman, will close for…
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Taxi driver versus Police in Patong
A taxi driver in Patong released a video clip of him getting a warning from two traffic police not to park in prohibited parking spots. The video shows the man complaining to the two police officers that there were many cars parked in the same area but none of them were caught by the police, only him who happened to be…
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Corpse found in a Koh Siray mangroves
At approximately 10am this morning (October 23), Pol. Maj. Akkaradet Pongprom, from Phuket Police Station, received a report that a corpse was found floating in a mangrove before the monkey viewpoint, on the way towards Koh Siray, east of Phuket Town. At the scene, the police found the body of a man who did not have any documentation or items…
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Four injured after a shooting in Phuket Town
Four people have been shot – one remains in critical condition – in a house near Saphan Hin in Phuket Town. It all started from a conflict between a local man, 23 year old Kacha Keukkong, and a group of four locals, who all ended up injured after visiting him at his house near Saphan Hin and were shot before…
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Ammonia leaks from ice-factory in Rawai
An ammonia gas leak has been discovered from an ice and drinking water plant located behind the Rawai Temple. About 300 residents living within 500 metres were asked to evacuate. Rawai Mayor, Arun Solos, got a report about the leak last night at about 9pm. Controlling the leak took longer than expected and a strong smell was present around the…
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Tour company van crashes into electric pole
A van from a tour company hit an electric pole on the Bypass Road, opposite McDonalds on the way to towards the Samkong Underpass intersection. The driver, who was only named “Pu” or “Fu” sustained injuries to his left leg and some scratches. He was stuck in the van before an ambulance from Siriroj Hospital was able to rescue him…
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Updated information on tomorrow’s cremation
Dresscodes If you are attending any official Phuket services for the Royal Cremation or Funeral, this is what you will be required to wear. Women • Respectful black shirt with sleeves and collar. No skin-tight, gym-slip or tube top and avoid laces. • Black skirt or sarong that is longer than knee level and polite black shoes. No jeans and…
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Shooting at a Thalang rubber plantation
40 year old Danudech Maliwan from Phang Nga, a worker at a rubber plantation in Thalang, has been shot on his left arm by an anonymous shooter driving a white car. Police found a .357 bullet left at the scene. The rubber plantation is located at the entrance of the Tonsai Waterfall in the Thepkasattri sub district. Danudech told the…
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2017 Phuket Vegetarian Festival Calendar
October 20 Official start of the Vegetarian Festival Every day from October 23 – 28 There’s a ritual paying respects to Chinese guardian angels (Ko Gun) at Bangniew Shrine and from October 22, the ceremonies can be seen at Jui Tui Tao Bo Keng Shrine and Ta Rua Shrine as well. October 23 A ritual to pay respect to ancestors…
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Kicking off Phuket Vegetarian Festival
Phuket’s annual vegetarian festival kicked off last night with religious rituals happening at the main Chinese shrines of the island with a large number of attendees including Phuket’s Governor, authorities, locals and tourists. The big ritual of Koteng lantern pole raising was held at Juitui Tao Bo Keng Shrine, the ancient Chinese shrine in Old Phuket Town. Apart from Juitui…
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Minesweeper relic taken to Phang Nga
The minesweeper found just offshore at Nai Yang Beach two weeks ago is said to be safe and has been taken to Phang Nga. The EOD team checked the suspected minesweeper device for explosive powder and found that the inside of it is empty and safe. After identifying the mystery object – which was found submerged at low tide 30…
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Another Russian tourist drowns at Karon Beach
Another Russian tourist has drowned in the seas off Karon Beach today (October 18), while swimming in a red flag zone. This time the man was swimming at the far southern end of Karon Beach. 53 years old Evgenii Erdlei was rescued from the sea by local beach vendors and officers from the Marine Safety Unit of the Royal Thai…
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Three vehicles in a crash in Thalang kills one, injures another
At the scene, a car, motorcycle and truck had collided. The motorcyclist died in the collision. Police presume that the cause of accident that killed the motorcyclist, 32 year old Thongmai Chairat, and injured his passenger, Natthawut Chaikham, was that they were trying to pass through the traffic jam by riding in the middle of two lanes when they hit…
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New management contract for Hollywood nightclub
The Hollywood nightclub management contract has been revoked after a shooting in the club last week while new management has been put in place. Preechawut “Prab” Keesin, owner of the venue and the head of the Pisona Group of companies, revealed that he has cancelled the management contract of the Hollywood nightclub for ‘damaging the reputation of the business’ as…
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Young dolphin washes up on Kamala Beach
Officers from the Rare Sea Animal Division of the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) have revealed today (October 17) that the dead dolphin found on Kamala Beach washed up ashore yesterday was a young Fraser’s Dolphin, which is rare in the Andaman Sea. The body is 2 metres long and weighs approximately 70 kilograms. The body was still fresh when…
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Chinese tourist drowns near Koh Racha whilst snorkelling
Yesterday afternoon (October 15), 26 years old He Sixiang drowned during a snorkelling tour near Racha Noi Island. The man and his girlfriend went for a trip with a group of 24 people and when the snorkelling time was up the tour guide found that one passenger was missing. After searching for the missing diver, they found him face down…
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Russian tourist drowns at Karon red-flagged beach
A 42 year old Russian tourist, Parshukov Ole, drowned at Karon Beach this afternoon (October 15). The area of the beach the man was drowning was designated with red flags, deemed unsafe for swimming with big waves and rip currents. Patong Hospital say that the man was sent to hospital after he was swept by strong waves near Karon Circle.…
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Russian tourists in trouble swimming off Karon Beach
Karon Municipality Tourist Centre saved six foreigners off red-flagged Karon Beach this afternoon (October 14). There were initially two Russian tourists drowning 50 metres ashore. The team from the Royal Thai Navy Area 3 and officers of the Phuket Marine Security Centre used jet-skis and speedboats to fetch the duo and return them to shore safely. A little while later,…
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Dead whale and dolphin washed up on Koh Lanta
Sub Lieutenant Nitikorn Chankham from the Royal Thai Navy Area 3 revealed yesterday (October 13) that local fishermen found a dead whale washed up on Had Nui Beach, in Koh Lanta, Krabi. Five navy officers were sent to the scene alongside agents from the Rare Sea Animal Division of the Phuket Marine Biological Centre. The officers presumed that the whale…
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Patong shooter surrenders – assisting Police with investigation
34 year old Manas Pongsuppakij, who lives in Patong, surrendered himself to Patong police today (October 13) after getting pressure from the police to report to them as soon as possible. Following a shooting at Hollywood nightclub in Bangla Road, injuring the victim 27 year old Pongwarit Thiptara, to his leg and back, the police were able to track down…
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Baggage handler caught stealing from luggage
Airport baggage handler, 27 year old Abdullah Hayee Mayeh, was arrested with a bluetooth speaker on October 12 after his robbery was recorded on video. CCTV cameras caught him trying to open the luggage of a passenger of Jetstar Airways flight on October 10 at Bay 15 at Phuket International Airport while loading luggage onto the aircraft parked on the…
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It’s not a torpedo. It’s not a bomb. It’s a….
The mysterious object found in the sea of Nai Yang Beach has been revealed as “Oropesa”, a buoy from a naval minesweeper from World War II. The object is not harmful. The team from the Mine Squadron and Explosives Ordinance Division of the Royal Thai Army Area 3, Phang Nga base officers visited the scene this morning (October 12) to…
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Shooting at a Patong nightclub
At 3 am this morning, a shooting took place in a famous nightclub in the middle of Bangla Road, Patong. One Thai man was injured. The incident happened when the nightclub was closing down. 27 year old Pongwarit Thiptara was walking past a man when the two accidentally collided inside the club and the man, who he has never seen…
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Injured turtle found at Nai Harn Beach
Yesterday at 4pm, swimmers at Nai Harn Beach found an Olive Ridley sea turtle near the shore. Its front left leg was severely injured from a trawler or motorboat propeller and its right front leg was mildly cut as well. The lifeguards at Nai Harn Beach contacted Rawai Municipality and the Rare Sea Animal Division of Phuket Marine Biological Centre…
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Vegetable contamination check for the Vegetarian Festival
Phuket’s Governor, together with the Phuket Mayor, visited Banzan fresh market in Patong today (October 11) to check for any contamination of fresh vegetable and fruits before this year’s Vegetarian Festival. “The Vegetarian Festival starts from October 20 – 28 and there will be a lot more people consuming vegetables and fruits during the festival. These products can be contaminated…
