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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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US complaint leads to raid on Patong pirate shops
PHUKET: A United States Embassy complaint led to officers seizing more than 4 million baht worth of fake, copyrighted goods in Patong yesterday. Officers from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) Division 4 stormed 12 shops in the Patong area, rounding up pirated brand name bags, glasses, clothes and shoes. However, shop owners managed to evade arrest. “We received a…
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CFA dips into feline health care sector
PHUKET: The team behind the Chaofa Andaman (CFA) Pet Hospital has stepped forward to corner the feline segment of the pet healthcare market by opening Thailand’s first-ever cat-specific hospital next to their existing business on Chaofa East Road in Chalong. Open since July 2010, CFA Pet Hospital grew increasingly aware that cats were more stressed than other animals while visiting…
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Battling mob mentality
PHUKET: Though blockades, protests and other forms of mob rule appear to be an effective way for local Phuket villagers to kick-start official action, justice eventually catches up with the instigators, says Teenachat Jindangen, Commanding General of the 41st Military Circle. The commander’s comments come fast on the heels of an unprecedented riot and attack on the Thalang Police Station…
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Police mum on rioters’ arrest warrants
PHUKET: Police officials are still playing mum on the distribution of arrest warrants for those who instigated last weekend’s riots at Thalang Police Station. Deputy National Police Chief Chalermkiat Srivorakarn paid a visit to the island yesterday to commend officers for their patience and hard work over the last week, and to offer support to those who were injured. “I…
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Video Report: Haze doesn’t hamper Aussie’s fight against child abuse
PHUKET: As part of his battle against child abuse, Damien Rider successfully circumnavigated Phuket on his standup paddle board (SUP), despite the dense Indonesian haze leaving him lost at sea earlier this month. Mr Rider, a victim of child abuse, first caught the media’s attention with Paddle Against Child Abuse (PACA) when he completed an 800 kilometer prone paddle through…
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Grieving family to sue Phuket riot instigators
PHUKET: Family members of the patient whose death may have been prevented if rioters had not blocked the ambulance he was in from reaching a hospital last weekend, are prepared to sue those responsible for initiating the mob (story here). Chian Srichoo, 73, was being transferred from Krabi Hospital to the better equipped Bangkok Hospital Phuket for coronary stenosis [blockage…
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Island View: Tradition of bouncers beating punters
PHUKET: The tradition of bouncers beating punters more than likely goes back to the first brewers and distillers. The first confirmed creation of fermented beverages dates back to 6,650 BC. However, it is widely believed that humans were brewing beverages as early as the Neolithic period (10,000 BC), which very likely indicates a long history of those protecting their fermented…
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Free trolly tour offered for Veg Fest
PHUKET: Phuket municipality has launched a new trolly service for those wanting to see Old Phuket Town during the Vegetarian Festival. The free service will provide tours on a set route through Thalang, Krabi, Satun, Dibuk, Rassada, Phang Nga, Phuket and Montri Road. The service, which will be offered until October 21, will begin at the 72nd Anniversary Queen Sirikit…
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Paragliding temporarily banned in Rawai
PHUKET: Paragliding at Phuket’s iconic Promthep Cape has been temporarily banned, confirmed Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos. The ban follows earlier complaints of paragliders blocking public land and telling visitors to get out of their way during takeoffs (story here). “We held a meeting last week about the issue,” Mr Aroon told the Phuket Gazette. “Paragliding is temporarily banned until further…
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Chinese tourist drowns on snorkelling trip
PHUKET: Tour guides and doctors were unable to revive a Chinese tourist who was found in an unresponsive state while snorkelling at Koh Racha Yai yesterday. Zhang Jie, 29, was snorkelling at Patok Bay with about 20 other tourists when he was found motionless in the water, confirmed Lt Wuttiwat Liangboonjinda of the Chalong Police. “He was found face down…
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British expat found dead by friends
PHUKET: A British expat was found dead in his Thalang home by concerned friends this morning. Friends of Daniel Burke Whittington, 51, went to check on him after he failed to show up at work at Laguna Holiday Club where was a sales and marketing assistant manager. Police believe that Mr Whittington died three days before his body was discovered.…
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Police silent on rioters “fleeing’ Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police Commander Patchara Boonyasit declined to confirm or deny rumors that some of those wanted for instigating the violent attack on Thalang Police Station had already fled the province. “Police are working on the case. I prefer not to talk about what progress has been made,” Maj Gen Patchara told the Phuket Gazette this afternoon. Thalang Police…
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Business Buzz: Facebook goes beyond “likes’ to “Reactions’
PHUKET: After many people asking for it, and rumors abounding as to how it will work, it is finally here: Facebook has announced a trial in Ireland and Spain for a new series of emoji called ‘Reactions”. Users now have the choice to rate posts with ‘like’, ‘love’, ‘haha’, ‘yay’, ‘wow’, ‘sad’ or ‘angry’, quite similar to the emoji responses…
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Finance: Symmetrical triangle of gold
PHUKET: Gold is such a different asset class that it can really be very confusing thinking about it. As I write, gold is forming a classic technical trading pattern known as a symmetrical triangle, which makes it an interesting time to talk about it. These consolidation patterns usually result in a big move one way or the other, but let…
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Opinion: History of mob rule repeats itself
PHUKET: The Royal Thai Police must conduct a full and transparent investigation into the sad chain of events that led up to the riot at Thalang Police Station – all instigators must face justice. Issues of democratic development aside, one of the silver linings of living under de facto martial law for almost a year-and-a-half has been the dramatic reduction…
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Phuket shrine members demand financial transparency
PHUKET: As swords are drawn and firecrackers thrown for the Vegetarian Festival, a very different procession yesterday saw dozens of members of the Pud Jor Shrine marching to the Muang District Office to file a complaint against the shrine’s president. The group requested that the office investigate the financial transactions of the shrine and that complete transparency be put in…
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Myanmar national brutally beats friend to death
PHUKET: Police arrested a Myanmar national in Phuket Town yesterday for brutally beating a man to death with a metal bar in Chalong. After being apprehended, Lek, 39, confessed to police that he had become angry with fellow Myanmar national Keng, 35, and beat him to death. Earlier that day, officers were called out to a home office on Chao…
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Thirsty spirit photographed in daylight
PHUKET: The strawberry drinks set out by locals to score winning lottery ticket numbers from an unlucky section of road, which was once home to a very lucky tree, are being drunk by either a ‘daytime’ spirit or just a bum, depending on who you speak to. The offerings, normally nam daeng (‘strawberry drink’), are usually left by people seeking…
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Opinion: Funding national parks will lead to long-term results
Assistant Professor Thon Thamrongnawasawat, 49, is a member of the National Reform Council and a professor at Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Fisheries. He has a doctorate in Marine Science from James Cook University, Australia and is currently a writer, ichthyologist and an environmental activist. Here he talks about finding a balance between tourism and preserving the environment at national parks…
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Phuket riot damage totals more than B6mn
PHUKET: Initial estimates of the cost of damage caused by the riot at the Thalang Police Station amount to more than 6 million baht, confirmed Thalang Police Superintendent Chanuchan Cholsuwat. “However, this is just how much it will cost to repair the vehicles set on fire and the damage done to the building,” Col Chanuchan said. “We are keeping a…
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Phuket Riot: Police deny planting drugs
PHUKET: Provincial Police Commander Patchara Boonyasit this morning denied that officers planted drugs on the bodies of the two men killed in a police chase on Saturday. Patomwat Panarak, 22, and Teerapong Srisamut, 17, allegedly refused to be searched at a checkpoint and fled the scene. They were brought to a stop after their motorbike and a police vehicle collided.…
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Police delay seeking arrest warrants for Phuket rioters
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police have identified nine people as instigators in the violent attack on Thalang Police Station last week. “We are very clear on who these individuals are and where they live. However, we will be collecting more evidence before asking the court to issue arrest warrants,” Provincial Police Commander Patchara Boonyasit said this morning. “We will seek the…
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Phuket bouncers’ conduct to be reviewed after brutal beating
PHUKET: President of the Patong Entertainment Business Association Weerawit Kurasombat has called on representatives from nightlife venues in Patong to gather tomorrow to review policies concerning the conduct of bouncers. “I plan to implement strict rules about the use of violence by security,” Mr Weerawit said. “If any bouncer at any club is violent with a tourist, the club will…
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Phuket Riot: Cause of motorists’ deaths confirmed, intent under investigation
PHUKET: The cause for the two men’s deaths that was the catalyst for the Phuket riot has been confirmed. However, Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat will continue his investigation for the Ministry of Interior on whether or not the officers who crashed into the men’s motorbike were using excessive force. “A doctor has verified that Patomwat Panarak, 22, and Teerapong…
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Go Teng poles raised, Phuket Vegetarian Festival underway
PHUKET: Vegetarian Festival participants raised Go Teng poles at every Chinese shrine in Phuket at sunset yesterday to allow the Jade Emperor, one of the Nine Emperor Gods, to descend from the heavens – marking the start of the 2015 festivities. Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada was one of hundreds of white-clad observers who attended the pole raising at the Jui…
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Injured police say no force used against protesters
PHUKET: Some police officers injured during the Phuket riot testified yesterday that they did not respond violently when protesters attacked them. About 20 policemen were injured when protesters threw rocks, bricks and wooden objects at them, Patong Police Deputy Superintendent Akanit Danpitaksat explained. Mueang Police Superintendent Sompong Boonyarat, Kamala Police Deputy Superintendent Boriboon Yusuksomboon and Lt Col Akanit all gave…
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Opinion: Government, police, families have much to answer for after riot
PHUKET: Violence of any kind, regardless of who is involved, should be condemned in the strongest terms. But in the case of the 12-hour riot on Phuket over the weekend, it’s hard not to have at least some sympathy for those who instigated it. The mayhem was the direct result of the killing of two alleged drug dealers who were…
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One dead as mob blockade delays rescue efforts
PHUKET: A Phuket rescue worker believes that the rioters who attacked Thalang Police Station and blockaded Thepkrasattri Road (story here) might have played a role in the death of a patient who was being transferred from a hospital in Krabi to a better equipped Phuket hospital. “An ambulance from Krabi was blocked from going to Bangkok Hospital Phuket by the…
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Flash floods hit Chalong
PHUKET: Heavy rains drenched Chalong, causing flash floods, while other parts of the island have remained sunny today. Lt Chollada Chokdeesrijun of the Chalong Police warned motorists to beware of flooding in the area after nearly an hour of heavy rain fall. “Small vehicles have started to be able to pass the area, as the water level is getting lower,”…
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Laguna Tri-Fest draws Chinese numbers
PHUKET: Rising Chinese numbers at the Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest bodes well for years ahead, as the classic Phuket event looks to generate more than 90 million baht this year. “In the past two years, we’ve seen more than 50 per cent growth [in the number] of athletes from China, both at the Laguna Phuket International Marathon in June and…
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