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5 best wine bars in Bangkok offering rich and quality wine
It’s wine o’clock! Whether you’re all about fruity reds, sweet whites, or funky naturals, Bangkok has many great spots to sip your favourite varieties. But with an array of options to choose from, and the constant rise and fall of...
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Wheelchair bound Phuket man heads to Bangkok to honor HM
PHUKET: A wheelchair-bound Phuket man with one leg is trekking his way to the Grand Palace in Bangkok to pay his last respects to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Photos of the 48-year-old devotee, named Supakorn Juiplub, were shared on Facebook yesterday by a user named Jantima Kraithong. The photos showed Mr Supakorn sitting in a homemade wheelchair and wearing…
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Gov asked to intervene in vendor, municipality conflict
PHUKET: A group of 30 vendors yesterday filed a complaint with the governor’s office against the Patong Municipality after being given a cancellation notice of their rental contract. The vendors, who currently occupy the Loma Building on the Patong beachfront, asked the governor to intervene in the municipality’s plans to build a conference hall in the area where they operate…
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Speedboat shooters on the loose
PHUKET: Police are on a double manhunt for suspects that shot a fellow boat crew member in Koh Sirey last night. The 34-year-old victim, named Suchat Hetthong, escaped after getting shot in the right foot about 7:15pm near Koh Sirey Bridge. “Mr Suchat told us that five men, including the captain of another boat, showed up at his house and…
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Thai man ignores red flags, nearly drowns
PHUKET: A Thai tourist nearly drowned on Wednesday after he ignored red flag warnings and went swimming at Kata Beach. About 4pm, 27-year-old Athithan Kanjanawattanakun reportedly disappeared into the water. Lifeguards and Royal Thai Navy search and rescue personnel managed to recover him while he was still conscious. Mr Athithan received first aid at the scene and was then sent…
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By The Book: Renting a villa in Phuket
PHUKET: Renting a villa or apartment long term is very popular in Thailand, especially in resort areas such as Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Koh Samui. Many would-be buyers are deciding to hold off and rent for a year or more while they get to know the area and learn the ways of Thailand without so much risk. Renting long…
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Finance: Profiting from periods of panic
THERE is a good lesson in handling panic that can be learned from recent events in Thailand. The SET index, which is a broad measure of the Thai stock market, went on a pretty wild ride in response to the news regarding the monarchy. If you are not aware of what happened, the chart (right) shows the massive sell-off, only…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: Noodles in pyjamas
The Ministry of Farang Affairs is a one-stop shop where foreigners in Thailand can learn all they need to know about living here. No, we’re not talking about work permits, visas or taxes. We’re talking about day-to-day life in the Land of Endless Shocks and Riddles, of Blur, Befuddlement and the Bizarre. Stay tuned for weekly insights from Minister Stephff.For…
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Opinion: Battling carnage on the roads
PHUKET: As Phuket’s tourism industry prepares to welcome an influx of international arrivals for the upcoming high season, the island’s image has once again been tainted by violence within the taxi cartels. Turf wars among the island’s tuk-tuk drivers is one of the lines of inquiry Phuket police are looking into following the shooting murder of the president of the…
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Phuket woman begins her walk to the Grand Palace
PHUKET: A Phuketian set forth on her journey to Bangkok on foot yesterday in honor of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Malee Dokmai, 54, hails from Kathu and began walking early in the morning from Saphan Hin. Armed with pink running shoes, a picture of the King and a flag of Thailand, she aims to walk over Sarasin Bridge and…
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Phuket firefighters battle power pole blazes
PHUKET: Two power poles on the island caught fire in two separate incidents last night and early this morning, leaving locals in the dark for several hours in some areas. “We received reports of an electricity pole on fire in Srisoonthorn, Thalang, on Thepkrasattri Road southbound, at about 8:30pm last night,” Amnart Sujjit, a firefighter for Srisoonthorn Municipality, told the…
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Phuket bikers show love for His Majesty
PHUKET: At least 200 big bikers joined Phuket City Municipality officials in a mourning ceremony for His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Saphan Hin on Tuesday night. The bikers, from Phuket and nearby provinces, created a formation to spell out the words ‘King’ and ‘Rama IX’ with their bikes. The ceremony was presided over by Phuket City Deputy Mayor Kawee…
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Brit arrested for tuk-tuk robbery in Phuket
PHUKET: A British tourist was arrested and charged with theft yesterday after stealing a tuk-tuk driver’s wallet and other possessions from inside the taxi’s cab while it was parked in Karon last week. After reporting the theft to Karon police on Saturday, the tuk-tuk driver, Tawatchai Namwong, posted a warning about the pilfering farang on social media. The post read:…
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Phuket bag thief on cam in denial
PHUKET: A Rawai local was arrested at his residence on Tuesday, after CCTV footage showed him stealing a bag from a tour booth in Patong last Friday. A 34-year-old tour operator, named as Warrathaya Kamklin, filed a complaint with Patong Police alleging that the suspect, Tuanaroon Chokkua, 26, had stolen a bag from his booth’s counter. Police asked the court…
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Chinese holidaymaker drowns at Patong Beach
PHUKET: A 31-year-old Chinese man on holiday in Phuket with his wife drowned at Patong Beach yesterday afternoon. The deceased, Gang Liu, 31, was pulled from the surf at 4:30pm and rushed to Patong Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:45pm. Patong Police chief Lt Col Weerapong Rakhito said yesterday that after questioning Mr Liu’s wife, it was clear…
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Girl, 11, ripped from father’s arms in deadly surf
PHUKET: An 11-year old Korean girl was ripped from the arms of her father and swept out to sea by strong waves during a day trip to Koh Racha on Monday. Tour boat staff later found her unconscious body floating in the water some distance from the beach at Ao Patok on Racha Island, where she had been swimming with…
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Raging Russian tourist hurls bricks at cars in Karon
PHUKET: A Russian woman was arrested and charged this morning after flying into a rage and throwing bricks at vehicles outside a hotel in Karon around 4am. Ms Bravova, 45, (full name withheld), cracked the windscreen of a Honda Jazz and damaged the back of a minivan during her tirade, reportedly shouting about something she had lost in front of…
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Tuk-tuk drivers’ club leader murdered in Phuket
PHUKET: Police are hunting for an unknown number of suspects for the murder of the president of the Patong tuk-tuk drivers’ club earlier this morning. Sakol Srisompoch, 57, was found shot dead inside his tuk-tuk, which was parked in the middle of the road in front of King Kong Party Club, on Phra Phuket Kaew Road. Police were alerted to…
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Another drug bust nets B2mn worth of drugs
PHUKET: A Ranong man was arrested in Phuket last night with more than 11,000 amphetamine (ya bah) pills estimated to have a street value of two million baht. Region 8 Police led by Lt Col Prawit Engchuan of Ao Nang Police arrested Somchok Thanomjit, 36, when he showed up to receive the package at a private transportation company in Rassada.…
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Phuket police charge six with category 1 drug offenses
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police today announced the arrests of four men and two women for narcotics offences, in the latest illegal drug crackdown in the province. Yuttana Sulsabai, 48, was caught at his house in Tah Chat Chai in possession of 35 amphetamine (ya bah) pills last Tuesday. Police charged him with possession and intent to sell the illicit drugs.…
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Island View: Willing to go the distance for HM the King
PHUKET: The news of the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on October 13 has brought immense sadness to all Thais. Facebook and other social media is filled with messages of love and condolences. Every time I see such messages, it brings tears to my eyes. People are commemorating his life and achievements by sharing his history, hard work…
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Laguna Phuket Triathlon to go ahead as planned
PHUKET: Organizers of the Laguna Phuket Triathlon 2016 today confirmed that the annual international race is to go ahead as planned on Sunday, November 20. The Laguna Phuket Triathlon Race Office tentatively announced on Thursday that the race would be cancelled due to the country being in a period of mourning. However, Phuket Governor Chokchai Dejamornthan and the Phuket Provincial…
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Crowds fill Sanam Luang for live recording of Royal Anthem
BANGKOK: Huge crowds of black-clad mourners from across the country poured into Sanam Luang this morning to join the mass singing of the Royal Anthem in the afternoon and express their love for His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej. People holding umbrellas in the scorching sun strolled on the huge ground, waiting for the mass singing to start at 1pm.…
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Married to the mob: wife implicated in van driver shooting
PHUKET: Police have arrested the wife of a van driver and three accomplices for allegedly arranging to have the driver killed in a drive-by shooting outside his house in Kathu. The victim, Chamnong Kaewprot, was shot in the back by a masked gunman as he entered his home after parking his van outside the house around 11pm on October 8.…
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Aussie extends visa to walk for King
SURAT THANI: Australian tourist David Hammill hopes to reach Bangkok on foot before his visa runs out, after setting off on Thursday from Surat Thani armed with a 28-day visa extension so he can make the 650km journey as a tribute to the His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Walking with a portrait of HM the King in hand, the 46-year-old…
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Mai Khao pedestrian killed in collision
PHUKET: A Mai Khao pedestrian was killed after being hit by a car on Thepkrasattri Road in Thalang this morning. “The body of 53-year-old Malee Chailek lay on the road in front of the Baan Mak Prok 7-Eleven. A slightly damaged Toyota sedan was also parked nearby,” said Lt Col Watcharin Jiratthikanwiwat of the Tah Chat Chai Police. Witnesses told…
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Demand for black clothes soars
PHUKET: The government and private sectors have joined hands to ensure that the demand for black-colored clothing is taken care of in Thailand, including in Phuket. The move came after the government announced that government officials must wear black clothing for an entire year during the official mourning period of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej. It is recommended, but clearly not…
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Foreign Consuls grieve for HM the King
PHUKET: Fourteen Consuls gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall on Monday to express their condolences for the passing of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej last week. The Consuls, including French, Austrian, Brazilian, English, Chilean, Chinese, Czech, Finnish, German, Irish, Dutch, Russian, Swiss and Danish, were dressed in black to express their sorrow for the passing of His Majesty. The gathering was hosted…
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French man jumps to his death from Patong hotel
PHUKET: A French man jumped to his death from the 16th floor of a hotel in Patong around 6:30 this morning. A horrified electrician working on the same floor of the hotel spotted the man as he prepared to jump and unsuccessfully tried to talk him out of it. Police confirmed that the 47-year-old man was a French national and…
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Resort employees file complaint after notice to “stop working’
PHUKET: A group of 63 employees of the Aspasia Phuket resort in Karon registered a complaint with the Dhamrongdhama Center at Phuket Provincial Hall on Wednesday, after the hotel’s management company ‘The Breakers Resort & Development Co Ltd’ issued a verbal notice to them to stop working on Tuesday. Representatives of the management company said that the resort was unable…
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Finance: Listen to price rather than opinions
PHUKET: It’s clear that the entire world is focused on the coming US elections as several of my non-US clients have asked me recently what the impact on their investments will be if Donald Trump actually is elected. One worried client even sent me an article from the New Yorker, highlighting the following lines: “The Economist Intelligence Unit, an economic-and-geopolitical-analysis…
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