News
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If you’re an expat living in Thailand, you’ve likely experienced the complexity of navigating healthcare abroad. With Black Friday rolling in, it’s the perfect time to secure a health insurance plan that provides peace of mind and a safety net...
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Laguna Phuket Golf Club scores big
PHUKET: After a comprehensive 18-month upgrade, Laguna Phuket Golf Club bagged three prestigious awards at the Asian Golf Awards 2015 ceremony held at Orchid Country Club in Singapore. The Asian Golf Awards are devoted to recognizing and honoring the best facilities in the Asia Pacific Golf industry. Besides being named the Best Renovated Course of the Year, Laguna Phuket Golf…
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New top cop to focus on crime prevention
PHUKET: Phuket’s new top cop has vowed to focus his attention on crime prevention instead of crime suppression. Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Teeraphol Thipjaroen will be taking the reins as the island’s top policeman on Friday when Provincial Police Commander Patchara Boonyasit is transferred to Ratchaburi. The transfer is part of a nationwide reshuffle of top provincial-level officers that…
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Sea turtle caught with mouthful
KRABI: A local fisherman caught quite a surprise yesterday when he found a sea turtle with a half swallowed fish. Madyah Thamsuan, 63, was fishing near his home in Khlong Thom District when he noticed a turtle with a fish tail hanging out of its mouth. “The turtle appeared to be very weak and was unable to either swallow or…
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100-baht taxi rides during Patong Carnival
PHUKET: Anyone coming or going from Phuket’s primary party town during the Patong Carnival will now be able to enjoy taxi rides, confirmed Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsab. From November 1-3, GrabTaxi and GrabCar will be charging only 100 baht for a ride to or from Patong. “This is a great offer by the company to support the festival and to…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: Expensive is better
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.…
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Phuket Riot: 66 arrest warrants issued
PHUKET: A total of 66 arrest warrants have been issued for those involved in the Thalang Police Station riot, Deputy National Police Chief Chalermkiat Srivorakan confirmed today. “Investigators are still working on the case. However, 66 warrants have been issued for either illegal gathering in public, arson, damaging property or creating a blockade,” Gen Chalermkiat explained. More than 20 police…
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Phuket policeman killed in big bike crash
PHUKET: A Karon Police officer was killed after he lost control of his Honda big bike in Rawai early this morning. Police believe that Lance Corporal Nattachai Huahin was unfamiliar with the area and hit a curb at high speed just after midnight. “At the scene, we found the body of LCpl Nattachai with a broken neck and severe head…
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Opinion: Effects of feeding monkeys
Kritkantatong Kantap, 46, has been a member of the research team at the SEA Monkey Project of Chulalongkorn University since 2010 where he is part of a team that studies monkey species in Thailand. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Ramkhamhaeng University. Here he talks about how feeding monkeys can be detrimental to their natural behavior and…
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Good samaritan chases Phuket gold thief
PHUKET: A Phuket local pursued a snatch thief attempting to flee the scene of the crime for three kilometers before the thief crashed his motorbike today. Supachai Mattanang, 20, witnessed the the man rip a gold necklace, worth about 20,000 baht, off the neck of a Myanmar national near the Down Town Market before fleeing the scene on his motorbike.…
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Busted: teens threaten Phuket driver with handgun
PHUKET: Police today arrested two road-raging teens caught on tape waving an illegal firearm at a fellow driver on the bypass road in Phuket. The video posted on Facebook yesterday shows a car quickly overtaking the two teens. However, once the car is past, the teens take off after it on their motorbike with the passenger threatening the car driver…
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Kitten season begins at Soi Dog
PHUKET: Hotter days signify the beginning of cat breeding season, where thousands of kittens will be born. Many of these kittens will unfortunately end up in shelters or on the streets. Every year Soi Dog receives a surplus of kittens waiting to be given to loving homes. All kittens are sterilized and vaccinated at no charge to the adopter. However,…
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Minivan camera catches epic Phuket truck crash [video]
PHUKET: A tourist heading to Phuket International Airport and his van driver narrowly escaped death after an out-of-control truck piled with construction materials flipped on Kata Hill and skidded to a stop within a meter of them yesterday afternoon. The two people in the crashed truck were minorly injured and taken to Patong Hospital. “The 51-year-old driver, Apichart Toreewong, told…
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Fifth suspect in Phuket Vegetarian Festival killing surrenders
PHUKET: A fifth man wanted for the gang slaying of a 15-year-old during the closing procession of the Vegetarian Festival surrendered to police yesterday (story here). One more suspect remains at large. A-non Wandee, 27, also known as ‘Non Kolai’, preseneted himself to police, but insisted that he was innocent. Mr A-non was charged with gang murder and attempted murder,…
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Property Watch: Branding unlocks potential of hotel property
PHUKET: Thailand, and more specifically Phuket, is leading a strong Southeast Asia trend in hotel residences to the tune of US$3.5 billion in properties currently up for sale. Overall the SEA regional market inventory is valued at a whopping US$16 billion. Recently, we conducted research throughout the Southeast Asia markets and identified nearly 120 developments with over 28,000 units. Thailand…
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Up in the Air: Bangkok Airways spreads its wings
PHUKET: Bangkok Airways finally launched a daily flight service connecting Phuket and Hat Yai with an inaugural launch ceremony after touchdown at Hat Yai Airport on October 11. As previously reported by Up in the Air, the link between south Thailand’s two busiest airports is long overdue. There are thousands of people from Songkhla and surrounding provinces who have been…
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Business Buzz: Quick tips to increase results
PHUKET: One of the biggest issues businesses have with online marketing is attracting eyeballs to their content. It doesn’t matter how good your website or social media content is if no one sees it. So the secret to getting much better results is to get your content seen. Here are five quick tips on how to increase your results with…
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Video Report: Patong’s Carnival kicks off this Sunday
PHUKET: Patong’s annual carnival is set to hit the beach town’s sands on November 1 with the theme: ‘Patong Seafood Festival 2015’. The event has been marking the beginning of Phuket’s high season for 30 years now, and will take place from November 1-3. Tourists and locals are all invited to join the concerts, historical exhibits and the renowned parade,…
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Four arrested for Phuket Vegetarian Festival slaying
PHUKET: Four men from rival Phuket gangs were charged for the slaying of a 15-year-old during the closing procession of Phuket’s renowned Vegetarian Festival last week. Three of the four men turned themselves in at Phuket City Police Station on Saturday, handing over their firearms as they did so. The men were named as: Thanapon Choosawat, 18, and Chinnakrit Kertthong,…
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Tourists spot school of whale sharks off Phuket
PHUKET: Tourists and officers were delighted when they spotted a school of whale sharks off of Phuket’s coast this weekend. After receiving reports of an injured whale shark, Than Bok Khorani National Park officers took a boat out to see what assistance, if any, could be rendered. “We found a school of five swimming between Koh Hong and Koh Yao…
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Phuket governor attends funeral of police chase victims
PHUKET: Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada attended the funeral of the two suspected drug dealers who were killed in a police chase that sparked the Phuket riot earlier this month (story here). Numerous government officials and police officers joined Governor Chamroen at the ceremony for Patomwat Panarak, 22, and Teerapong Srisamut, 17. “I am deeply sorry for this loss of life. We…
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Up in the air: Strong demand anticipated for Phuket – Hat Yai flights
PHUKET: Bangkok Airways finally launched a daily flight service connecting Phuket and Hat Yai with an inaugural launch ceremony after touchdown at Hat Yai Airport on October 11. As previously reported by Up in the Air, the link between south Thailand’s two busiest airports is long overdue. There are thousands of people from Songkhla and surrounding provinces who have been…
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Phuket air pollution leaps to unhealthy levels
PHUKET: Air pollution in Phuket jumped to unhealthy levels today, following two days of rain watering down the haze that has settled over the island. “The 24-hour average by 5am this morning was 121 micrograms [PM10] per cubic meter, which is above safe levels,” explained Pornsri Suthanarak, director of the Regional Environmental Office. Dr Pornsri suggested that people avoid outdoor…
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Man sets himself on fire at Phuket temple
PHUKET: A man who set himself on fire at a Phuket temple yesterday has refused to explain what motivated the self-mutilation. Pichet Meephon, 24, told police that he drove his motorbike from Thalang to Wat Mongkolnimit, where he purchased fuel from a nearby gas station. “Once back at Wat Mongkolnimit, Mr Pichet set himself on fire,” said Lt Col Chaliew…
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Alleged drug dealers cuffed in Phuket raids
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police arrested three suspected drug dealers in separate raids this week. Nattawut Tankongkoi, 29, was arrested with 115.86 grams of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine), a scale and drug paraphernalia in Srisoonthorn on Monday. “Mr Nattawut has already served time in prison for drug related crimes in Phuket; apparently he went back to his old ways,” said Maj…
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Special Report: Andaman trash takes toll on local marine life
PHUKET: Enormous amounts of trash and discarded fishing nets continue to wreak havoc on the regions marine life with 2 dolphins and 1 turtle being rescued this month alone, despite raised awareness on the issue, said Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, head of the endangered species unit at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC). “Compared to last year, the number of reported animals…
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Queer News: Locals say Naga’s raising the road
PHUKET: A creaked, raised road in Surin filled locals with the belief earlier this year that perhaps the cavity below was made by a Naga, a deity in a number of eastern religions that takes the shape of a snake – sometimes with seven heads – or even a Buddha image. Villagers gathered at the site, only 300 meters from…
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Opinion: Vegetarian Festival more trendy than traditional
PHUKET: I wonder how many people, including tourists and locals, actually know the history and meaning of the Vegetarian Festival, because it is nothing like it was in the past. If people were to judge the festival solely by what they see and hear now, then their reaction will most likely be one of fear, dismay or misunderstanding. A lot…
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‘The Race of Legends’ on horizon
PHUKET: The 22nd Laguna Phuket Triathlon will be taking place on Sunday, November 22, marking the beginning of Laguna Phuket’s week long Tri-Fest. The event consists of a 1.8 kilometer swim, 55km bike ride and a 12km run. This year’s triathlon will celebrate its 22nd year, while simultaneously welcoming the return of the Challenge Laguna Phuket on Sunday, November 29.…
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Rains water down Phuket air pollution
PHUKET: Morning showers helped to lower air pollution levels in Phuket, despite the 24-hour average spiking to 109 micrograms [PM10] per cubic meter by 12 noon today. “The 24-hour average by 3pm was down to 102. However, the hourly level was at just 34,” explained Pornsri Suthanarak, director of the Regional Environmental Office. “The average remains high due to increased…
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Brit expat found dead in Rawai
PHUKET: British expat David Cummins, 54, was found dead in his Rawai home late last night. Mr Cummins’ body was found by 45-year-old Duangduan Ngamprim, who had been living with him in Soi Saiyuan for about a year, said Lt Wuttiwat Liang-Boonjinda of Chalong Police. “I came home at about 11:30pm and found David sitting on the floor with his…
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