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Sponsored Moving with family? Here’s how to cut health costs in Thailand
Relocating to Thailand with your family brings exciting new opportunities, but it also comes with the challenge of managing healthcare costs in a new system. Thailand has both public and private healthcare options, each offering different prices and quality of...
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Phuket Opinion: Thailand’s lethal roads are not a secret
PHUKET: The UK’s Channel 4 recently aired a documentary entitled ‘The Undocumented Dangers of Thailand’s Roads’. The Phuket Gazette is grateful to Channel 4, as should be Phuket’s tourism professionals, for putting the dangers of our roads in the minds of tourists precisely when needed: just before the start of the nationwide “Seven Days of Danger” road-safety campaign which ended…
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‘Wrong place, wrong time’: Phuket axe victim’s parents say
PHUKET: The parents of stabbing victim Vorasit “Pla-wan” Issara held a press conference yesterday to explain that their son was simply “in the wrong place at the wrong time” and lucky to survive multiple wounds inflicted by staff in a vicious attack at the Rachada Pub early Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, police will widen their investigation and question additional witnesses –…
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Storms strip Phuket wrecks of markers
PHUKET: Recent storms have again made two wrecks in Chalong Bay a hazard to mariners. Markers attached to the wrecked boats by the Phuket Cruising Yacht Club had until recently made both of the wrecks visible to sailors. However, recent weather has stripped away the markers, making both wrecks invisible during high tide. “Please exercise caution when maneuvering close to…
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Phuket Computer Clinics head for midweek
PHUKET: With Phuket Gazette Live Wire columnist Woody Leonhard hunkered down writing Windows 8 All-In-One For Dummies, the long-standing free Phuket Computer Clinics are taking a new turn. Until Woody emerges with a new 860-page book under his arm, around May or June, compatriot IT guru Seth Bareiss will hold free computer sessions on alternating Wednesday afternoons, from 1pm to…
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Alien landing in Phuket tonight, and other events
PHUKET: Today will be packed with fun events across the island, as the Phuket high season for tourism hits full stride. Over in Patong, people who think they have seen just about everything Bangla Road has to throw at them might want to stop by Seduction disco at about 10pm, when a half-alien, half robotic being is widely rumored to…
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Weird World News: Fake plastic surgeon takes advantage of transsexuals; a massive tumor gets lopped off; and a little girl gets liposuction for Christmas
Phuket: Put a little on, take a little off: with the New Year in full swing everyone seems worried with how they look. This week’s Weird World News line-up features some of the more disturbing makeover headlines of the week, from having an 89 kilogram tumor removed to giving a seven-year-old girl a voucher for liposuction.Filling up the trunk with…
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Phuket PDL Darts: Week 10 wrap-up
PHUKET: It was a lethargic start to the new year by both Hemingways sides, the heavy Christmas sessions obviously taking their toll. There were plenty of tons and some 140s this week, but no 180s. Even with a strong line up, Shakers found themselves 6-0 down before getting on the scoreboard, when newcomer Nik (Shakers) held his own against curly-haired…
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Phuket “Pla wan’ stabbing: “I’m sorry,’ says pub owner
PHUKET: The owner of the Rachada pub in Phuket Town yesterday apologized in person to Vorasit “Pla-wan” Issara, General Manager of the Sri Panwa Resort, for the attack that led to him being stabbed in the stomach and hacked in the neck with a makeshift axe. “I am very sorry about what happened. I will call my staff together and…
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Assault on Phuket’s “Pla-wan’ draws royal sympathies
PHUKET: The attack on the 31-year-old Sri Panwa Resort General Manager Vorasit “Pla-wan” Issara early on Wednesday morning has prompted a gift of flowers from HRH Princess Sirivannavari Narirat, hand delivered by Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha today. Mr Vorasit is currently receiving treatment at Bangkok Hospital Phuket in Phuket Town for injuries sustained in the incident. He was stabbed in…
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Phuket expat, 74, faces deportation over loan sharking
PHUKET: A 74-year-old American man and a woman from the Philippines are facing being deported to their home countries after being arrested and charged in Phuket with working without a work permit and overcharging interest on private loans. Lt Col Somkid Khaosang, Duty Officer at Thalang Police Station, said that Anthony Thomas Granata, 74, and Ressel Alostor Alpay, 39, were…
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FC Phuket coaches step down
PHUKET: FC Phuket’s worries continue with the announcement from club director Soranan Sanae that Sompong “Rock Rhino” Wattana resigned as head coach yesterday. Director Soranan said “Coach Sompong still has responsibilities with the Port Authority of Thailand and hasn’t had much time to train the players. We have asked Coach Apichart “Mo” Mosika to caretake for tomorrow’s game in his…
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Phuket Media Watch: Chinese news round-up
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Collapse at coal mine in southwestern China kills 9 Phuket Gazette / News Wires Nine workers have been killed and two others are injured after a collapse at a coal mine in southwestern China, local authorities said on yesterday. The accident happened at around 5:20 p.m.…
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Phuket tourists dive in to help Methee’s grieving parents
PHUKET: A man who has asked to remain anonymous has contacted the Phuket Gazette in response to the story covering the unfortunate death of Methee Khunsuinhu, who died as a result of a drowning accident at a lagoon near Nai Harn Beach on New Year’s Day. The man, a foreigner who lives and works in Phuket, expressed his deep condolences…
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Phuket Sports: Tuffers at the Village tonight
PHUKET: Former England cricket international and TV personality, Phil Tufnell will spend an evening with Phuket cricket enthusiasts and VIP guests at The Village Coconut Island tonight. Absolute World have organized an informal BBQ and drinks event where Phil will share anecdotes of his outstanding cricket career and experiences of winning the popular reality TV show “I’m A Celebrity, Get…
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New Year goes off with a final bang
A NEW Year’s Eve celebration went horribly wrong for one family on Koh Samet after a woman shot three bullets into the air to mark the start of 2012. As Rampha Suphasi, 48, lowered her gun it accidentally discharged again, hitting her husband Thanakit Suphasi in the chest. Mr Thanakit, also 48, promptly fell down dead. Police arrived at the…
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Phuket Media Watch: Bishop quits; Hybrid sharks; Volcano activity; Face failures
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Catholic bishop in California quits after admitting he fathered two kids Phuket Gazette / News Wires The Archdiocese of Los Angeles on Wednesday announced that one of its Catholic bishops has resigned after acknowledging he fathered two children in the past. Gabino Zavala, 60, resigned under…
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Phuket Business: Ingredients of good showbiz
PHUKET: Siam Niramit Phuket recently launched the second edition of “Thailand’s Must-See Show”, opening a massive new theater on the bypass road near Phuket Town to house it. Good news for the local entertainment and tourism sectors, Siam Niramit Phuket’s “Journey to the Enchanted Kingdom of Siam” show provides one more compelling itinerary for tourists and residents alike. Pannin Kitiparaporn,…
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Phuket Governor predicts investment boom in 2012
PHUKET: The new year is shaping up to be a golden one for investment and tourism in Phuket, says Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha. In an exclusive interview with the Phuket Gazette, Gov Tri said the island’s continued attractiveness to foreign investors could see growth figures for 2012 surpass those of 2011. “Thai and foreign investors are continuously coming to invest…
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Phuket’s Seven Days of Danger claims six lives
PHUKET: The final toll for the “Seven Days of Danger” road safety campaign in Phuket is six dead and 80 injured in 75 reported accidents, all higher than last year’s figures. The final day of the campaign yesterday saw 10 people injured in nine reported accidents, none involving foreigners. During the 2010-2011 New Year campaign four people died and 74…
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FC Phuket fans say cheers for lifting the ban
PHUKET: FC Phuket fans will be allowed to cheer during the team’s final home match of the season on Saturday evening against Bangkok FC, the club’s secretary has confirmed today. The latest development comes after an unprecedented ruling by the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) that the club’s final home match could be played at Surakul Stadium on the condition…
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Phuket Business: Time is money
PHUKET: One of the first concepts we needed to learn when studying finance was that of the time value of money. In theoretical terms it is quite easy to understand, but when practically applying it to life decisions it can be a little more complicated. Basically the idea is that 100 dollars today is preferable to 100 dollars in a…
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Phuket Live Wire: Don’t lose that number
PHUKET: In the past few Live Wire columns I’ve tried to answer some of the questions I hear frequently about computers, phones, tablets and TVs in Phuket. Here’s the next common question – and, surprise, it has a good solution. “Woody, I want to get a 3G phone (or I want to get 3G service on my current phone), but…
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No sale! FC Phuket still on the market
PHUKET: Football fans in Phuket will definitely have at least one local professional team to root for this year, and possibly two, the FC Phuket’s club secretary told the Phuket Gazette this morning. The news follows online reports asserting that FC Phuket has been sold to Bangkok premier outfit Muang Thong United and will move to the capital under a…
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Phuket resort GM ‘safe’ after stabbing attack
PHUKET: The well-known general manager of a luxury resort in Phuket is out of danger following emergency surgery for stab wounds sustained in a brawl outside a Phuket Town nightclub early yesterday morning. The victim, 30-year-old Vorasit “Plawan” Issara, was stabbed twice in the abdomen outside the Rachada Pub in the Phun Pol area of Phuket Town at about 4am…
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TAT calls Phuket businesses to tourism trade show
PHUKET: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is inviting tourism-related businesses in Phuket and throughout the region to take part in its Thailand Travel Mart 2012 (TTM 2012), to be held June 6 to 8 at Impact Muang Thong Thani Exhibition Center in Nonthaburi. TTM 2012 will feature products and services related to eco-tourism, golf, health and wellness, and weddings…
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FC Phuket to play at Surakul on Saturday, but no cheering allowed
PHUKET: An appeal by FC Phuket to be allowed to play their last home match of the season at Surakul Stadium has been approved by the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), but only under the bizarre proviso that home-side fans not be allowed to cheer their team in any way. “Fans will only be allowed to sit still. There can…
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Methee, 7, passes away at Vachira Phuket
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette is sad to report that Methee Khunsuinhu, the seven-year-old boy pulled unconscious from a lagoon near Nai Harn Beach on New Year’s Day, has died. Inquiries have revealed that Methee died in the intensive care unit at Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town at 7:15am yesterday. He was put on life support after his rescue on…
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Best of Phuket Awards announced on line today
PHUKET: The 29 winners of Phuket’s 2011 ‘Best of Phuket’ Awards in the Business, Service, Environment and Restaurant categories have been announced and go on line today. The winners (4) in the ‘Person of the Year’ category were announced in the Gazette Online on Sunday. They won for their hard work and success over many years with the iconic Phuket…
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Phuket records second day without death on the roads
PHUKET: Today marks the last day of the “Seven Days of Danger” holiday road-safety campaign. No fatalities were recorded in Phuket yesterday, Day 6 of the campaign, with the number of fatalities standing at six. According to official figures from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Phuket Office (DDPM-Phuket) this morning, Day 6 ended with nine serious injuries in…
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Work on Central Phuket underpass to start this year
PHUKET: Pheu Thai MP and former Finance Minister Suchart Thadathamrongvech today announced that work on the much-debated underpass at the Darasamut Intersection (also known as the Central Festival Intersection) will start this year. The news was announced this afternoon at a public meeting at the Phuket Community Hall, near Phuket Provincial Hall, in Phuket Town. Sriyada Palimaphan, Secretary to the…
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