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The Thaiger key takeaways The most common medical emergencies for expats in Thailand include motorcycle accidents, tropical diseases, and food or water-borne illnesses. Air pollution and heat-related conditions like heatstroke also pose serious seasonal health risks, especially in northern and...
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Indonesia starts legal action against 4 companies linked to SE Asia haze
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Indonesia starts legal action against 4 companies linked to SE Asia haze Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Indonesia has ordered four companies to suspend operations for causing forest fires thatsent smoke across a large swathe of Southeast Asia, an Indonesian Environment Ministry official said on Tuesday.…
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Thailand adopts new six-month multiple-entry tourist visa
PHUKET: In a move to boost tourism and drive the economy, Thailand has officially announced that it will start offering six-month multiple-entry tourist visas (METV) starting November 13. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ official website notes that the visas will cost 5,000 baht and will grant travellers multiple entries during a six-month stay, for up to 60 days per entry.…
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Ammonia leak scares Rawai locals
PHUKET: After a string of complaints, municipality officials found that a water plant in Rawai had been leaking ammonia into the main canal on Sunday. Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos received complaints from locals on Saturday, claiming that they suffered itchy eyes and sore noses after a strong ammonia smell was allegedly coming from The Crystal Drinking Water plant. “By the…
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Owner yet to come forward in Thalang bovicide
PHUKET: A woman escaped serious injury after her car collided with a cow in Thalang this morning. Thanyaluck Plongnirat, 26, was heading to the airport at about 5am when the accident occurred, Lt Kraisorn Boonprasop of the Thalang Police told the Phuket Gazette. “I was on my way to catch a flight when I saw a shadow try to pass…
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Missing IUU vessel now chased internationally
PHUKET: The ongoing search for the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing vessel that slipped through the fingers of Phuket officials earlier this month (story here) is now the subject of an international pursuit, confirmed Vice Admiral Sayan Prasongsamrej, commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command yesterday. “As soon as we received the report that the vessel had…
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Local cycling team takes top honors
PHUKET: The Phuket-based cycling group Team Fourteen won the 40 kilometer Team Time Trial held in Surat Thani on Sunday. Daniel Amby, Greg Dick, Sunny Teerasak and Jonathan Fowler completed the out-and-back flat course in a time of 54:40 with an average speed of 44.23km/h. A total of 29 teams from throughout Thailand competed in the event, which was sponsored…
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Officials reveal plans for Surin beachfront makeover
PHUKET: Cherng Talay Administration Organization (OrBorTor) President Ma-ann Samran has revealed his dream project for Surin’s beachfront after the current land encroachment cases have been settled. “Originally I planned to have a public park, activity space and a walkway, as well as a stadium,” Mr Ma-ann said. “The plan was submitted to the governor several months ago with an estimated…
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Philippines’ ‘most wanted’ arrested in Phuket
PHUKET: Former Palawan Governor Joel T Reyes and his brother Mario Reyes were arrested in Phuket on Sunday, according to a Philippine Daily Inquirer police source. The source, an official of Task Force Usig, the tracker group assigned to catch big-name fugitives from the Philippines, said that the Reyes brothers had long been wanted for the slaying of Palawan environmentalist…
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Property Watch: Pitfalls in Thai property market
PHUKET: Inevitably I have seen a fair amount of unethical and immoral behavior in Phuket connected to my work and the experiences of clients. This, combined with the huge changes in the Phuket business, infrastructure, development and demographics, has led me to conduct a quick mental check on where we stand in Phuket when it comes to morals, and how…
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A Decade Ago: Water woes, camel toes
PHUKET: Water woes – how many times has the Gazette used that headline in the last ten years? Well, it soaked through page one again as Phuket’s sole public reservoir in 2005 was ‘down to [its] last few drops’. Not too long ago, when those of us currently on the island were knee deep in flood waters, we found out…
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New 3D smartphone app aims to help tourists – but not in Phuket
PHUKET: Thailand’s Tourist Police launched a new smartphone application last week in hopes of improving service and convenience for tourists – but not for those on the tourist island of Phuket. The augmented reality application, ‘Thailand Tourist Trips and Tips AR Book’, enables tourists to use their smartphones to learn about the basics of Thai culture; to get tips on…
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Chinese tourists saved from sinking boat
PHUKET: More than a dozen Chinese tourists and a speedboat crew were safely rescued after their boat sank near Koh Kai this weekend. The 16 tourists were on their way to Phi Phi from Phuket when their speedboat, Papangkorn, struck an unknown object causing the boat to take on water, Phuket Marine Police Chief Panya Chaichana told the Phuket Gazette.…
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Phuket air pollution warning lifted
PHUKET: Officials have lifted an air quality health warning for the island after the haze caused by Indonesian wildfires decreased yesterday. “Air pollution levels dropped to an average of 94 micrograms per cubic meter for the last 24-hour period,” Pornsri Suthanarak, director of the Regional Environmental Office, told the Phuket Gazette. On Saturday, air pollution on the island maintained levels…
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“Stinky Squid’ shroom to bring good luck, says local
PHUKET: Locals believe that the rare ‘stinky squid’ mushroom they discovered in a jasmine pot after making merit in Chalong yesterday morning will bring them good luck. “My family and I had just returned to from Wat Chalong, and I was watering the plants when I saw the mushroom. It looked so weird to me: it was like a squid…
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Island View: Market for creativity
PHUKET: Having just moved to Phuket Old Town from Bangkok a couple of months ago, the huge difference between the great metropolis and this petite community is unavoidably on my mind. Of all its charming features, particularly the Sino-Portuguese architecture which harks back to the island’s long history, it is the Lard Yai Sunday Walking Street market which really delights…
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The killing cove: ‘Cove monitoring’ in Taiji
PHUKET: On September 11 this year at about 9.35am, Japan time, a young Risso’s dolphin under severe shock and distress tried to escape the hunters by swimming under the enclosing net, only to find itself nearer to the shore instead of out at sea. Swimming straight to where Ric O’Barry stood documenting this horrifying turn of events, the Risso’s pushed…
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Haze prompts officials to issue health warning
PHUKET: Phuket officials issued a health warning today, after air pollution on the island maintained levels above the public safety standard for the last 24 hours. “Phuket’s air pollution level has continuously been above 120 micrograms per cubic meter for a 24-hour period,” Pornsri Suthanarak, director of the Regional Environmental Office, told the Phuket Gazette. According to their research, Phuket…
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No health warning issued for Phuket haze
PHUKET: The Regional Environmental Office has yet to issue a health warning for the thick Indonesian haze that settled over Phuket today. However, the current air conditions on the island have raised concern among experts despite it being deemed safe. “We are monitoring it very carefully,” Pornsri Suthanarak, the director of the Regional Environmental Office told the Phuket Gazette. “We…
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Locals take road safety measures into own hands
PHUKET: Four local men used money from their own pockets to help fix dangerous sections of the bypass road near the Samkong underpass construction site yesterday. Kanin Raksaraj, Jiradet Sawatjan, Somsak Juapsri and Suthisak Srikong bought two bags of asphalt, costing 350 baht, to fix the road. “We have seen so many accidents happen over and over again on the…
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Big budget to fix Patong’s floods
PHUKET: A 420-million-baht budget has been approved by the Public Works Department to help alleviate flooding in Patong. “Four flood-protection methods will be put into place from 2016 through 2018,” Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsub told the Phuket Gazette. The department is now working with municipality officials on surveying, planning and designing the new systems that include a retaining wall, man-made…
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Police: New governor likely to act on Surin Beach encroachment
PHUKET: Police expect Chamroen Tipayapongtada, who will be the governor of Phuket as of October 1, to strongly back their efforts to evict a number of Surin Beach clubs and businesses that are allegedly encroached on public land. “I don’t think it will take long once the new governor takes charge. He was previously a vice governor for the province…
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Patong requests expansion of entertainment zone
PHUKET: Nightlife venue operators have requested an expansion of the Patong entertainment zone in a letter to the Ministry of Interior that also requested a change for the closing time of their bars and clubs. The letter, which was supported by the Kathu District Office, Patong Entertainment Business Association and a number of private nightlife venue owners, was sent after…
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Lifeguards issue warning against marine activities
PHUKET: Lifeguards issued a marine activities warning to tourists and island residence following the death of a teen fisherman whose body was recovered yesterday evening (story here). “Rough seas claimed another life this year. I urge everyone to avoid marine activities of any type, especially swimming and fishing, during these current weather conditions,” said Kata-Karon Chief Lifeguard Uten Singsom. Mr…
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Video Report: Shores awash with injured sea turtles
PHUKET: Four olive ridley sea turtles were found injured on Kamala and Bang Tao Beaches within a 48 hour period this week. All four turtles were in very weak condition, confirmed Patcharaporn Gaewmong, a Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) veterinarian. “Three of the turtles had severed flippers,” Ms Patcharaporn said. Experts believe that the turtles were caught in fishing nets…
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Business Buzz: Don’t forget the database
PHUKET: Almost every business these days has at least some form of website and social media presence. What still amazes me, though, is how few are creating a database – which is actually their biggest asset. Simple Marketing 101 suggests you need potential customers to make a sale. And the easiest way to get potential customers is to create a…
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Finance: Continuing education
PHUKET: I have always been a big fan of education. It was instilled in me by my father from the time I was young and saw all of my friends leaving education early for the allure of a quick paycheck. Obviously, the short-sightedness of that only becomes apparent in hindsight, but I don’t think it is ever too late to…
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F1 racers heat train on Phuket
PHUKET: Adding to Phuket’s appeal as a first-rate sports destination is the recent arrival of two Formula 1 drivers, Jenson Button and Marcus Ericsson, to acclimatize to the heat at a local training camp prior to the Singapore Grand Prix. Aside from heat training at the Thanyapura sports facility, the pair are also doing some triathlon training with fellow triathletes…
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Teen goes missing in Kata waves
PHUKET: Rough weather continues to hamper search efforts for an 18-year-old man who went missing from Kata Beach yesterday afternoon, the Phuket Marine Police have admitted. Boonchiaw Thongdonmuang, 18, was fishing with friends on a rock outcrop known as ‘Laew Fa’ when he was struck by a large wave and taken out to sea. “We started our search yesterday, but…
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Plastic bag possibly killed dolphin, says Phuket expert
PHUKET: A striped dolphin found washed up on Nai Yang Beach on Tuesday most likely died from the consumption of a plastic bag, explained marine experts today. “It was about 15 years old, 2.45 meters long and approximately 90 kilograms. It had a wound near its eye,” said Patcharaporn Gaewmong, a Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) veterinarian. “The results from…
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Opinion: Social media opens floodgates for gun trade
PHUKET: The wide-scale presence of homemade guns is nothing new in Phuket, but the increased ease with which potential buyers can source firearms through the social media should be a source of great concern for law enforcement agencies – as well as society at large. The revelation that these gun purchases are now often conducted through social media platforms, such…
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