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Is tap water in Thailand safe to consume?
Wondering if you can drink the tap water in Thailand? From brushing your teeth to filling up a bottle, it’s helpful to understand a few basics. Tap water safety in Thailand varies by location, and while some people use it...
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Rawai sea wall shored up after collapse
PHUKET: Truckloads of rocks were dumped along a 30-meter stretch of Rawai beachfront on Sunday to temporarily shore up the sea wall, which gave way last week after it was damaged by strong waves. Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos ordered the quick fix after inspecting the site on Saturday. “The wall and sidewalk were damaged after being battered for three days…
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Canadian crash victim safe after blood donations
PHUKET: A Canadian man badly injured in a motorcycle accident on Friday is now in stable condition thanks to donations of A-negative blood, medical staff at Vachira Phuket Hospital confirmed this morning. Connelly Bavid Lee, 35, required the blood so doctors could carry out a second round of surgery following emergency treatment after Mr Lee was seriously injured in a…
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Diving: Safety regulations in the dive industry
PHUKET: As promised, let’s dig into two of the biggest questions professionals in the industry are faced with in Phuket: “can we bend the rules to take photos on a Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) course” and “what counts as a ‘confined water environment’ for DSD”. Even at the PADI seminar on March 8 (story here), which included some of the…
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A Decade Ago: Crowne Plaza, work permits and Chinese tourists
PHUKET: If you weren’t in Phuket ten years ago, you might not even know what the Crown Plaza was. Nonetheless, it stole page one of the Phuket Gazette in the May 6-11, 2006 issue when it was bought by Kingdom Hotel Investment, which was headed by Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud – the 8th…
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Phuket police make B5mn drug haul
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police announced the seizure of street drugs valued at more than five million baht following the arrests of five drug pushers, May 4-5. Police seized more than 2.5 kilograms of crystal meth (ya ice) and 6,400 methamphetamine pills (ya bah) with a total value of about 5 million baht. “Narachai Chuatchuea, 33, was arrested at his rental…
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Opinion: To bike or not to bike in Phuket
PHUKET: A friend of mine recently arrived in Phuket. It is his very first time in Thailand and he intends to hang around for a while so, within the first week of his stay, he bought a motorcycle. Admittedly, anyone who wants to get around Phuket needs some form of independent transport, unless they have the time and patience to…
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Starving fishermen blame government restrictions for loss of income
PHANG NGA: More than 300 anchovy fishermen, claiming loss of income following the introduction of new regulations established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, gathered in protest at Laem Mai pier at Koh Yao Noi on Thursday. Led by spokesperson Tiwakorn Thongkert, the fishermen demand changes to regulations which prevent vessels weighing 10 tons or more from fishing within…
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Alex Face unfazed by the controversy surrounding his painting
PHUKET: Alex Face, the artist who painted the controversial mural depicting a three-eyed child on a wall of one of the city’s most historic buildings, the Peranakan Nitat (Baba) Museum in Phuket Town, is set to remove the artwork today. The Thai artist, whose given name is Patcharapol Tangruen, has been commissioned to paint buildings all over the world, but…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: You may not know you are a potential prey
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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Phang Nga hailstorm, high winds worst in almost 40 years
KRABI – PHANG NGA: High winds, rain and hailstones caused extensive damage to property in Krabi and Phang Nga on Thursday, marking the onset of the monsoon season. One official said it was the worst storm in almost 40 years. “At least two houses were completely destroyed and 20 others were extensively damaged in Krabi, as well as crops, including…
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Opinion: Artistic controversy through the ages
PHUKET: The persecution of artists has been a popular pastime for people in power since the first paintings were commissioned by the courts and Counts of the Renaissance. Caravaggio was run out of Rome by angry clergymen who disagreed with the artist’s stylistic leap toward the visceral vulgarities of humanity, while many nobles and critics celebrated his work as groundbreaking.…
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Climbing bans blamed for killing tourism at Thailand climbing meccas
PHUKET: Local tourism business operators this week blamed the rock climbing bans in Koh Yao Noi, Koh Phi Phi and Koh Poda for the savage drop in hotel and resort occupancy rates at Thailand’s climbing meccas – Tonsai and Railay Beach. “Bungalow resort owners on Tonsai Beach saw occupancy rates drop by 50 per cent year on year in March,…
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Wet road surface blamed for three vehicle pile-up
PHUKET: A slippery road surface due to rain was blamed for a three car pile-up on Thepkrasattri Road on Thursday night, causing long tailbacks and delays for northbound motorists. Two people were injured in the multi-car collision near Wat Phra Thong in Thalang at about 10pm. The driver of a Mazda sedan heading southbound lost control and rammed into oncoming…
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Join the festivities at the last Lighthouse Market of the season
The last Lighthouse Market of the season is being held at the Boat Lagoon in Koh Kaew today and tomorrow from 6pm. The spacious water-edge promenade will be decorated with imagery from countries around the world – including the Champs-Elysees in Paris, the windmills of Holland, then to Egypt, Japan and back to Thailand. The market features a panoramic view…
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Drugs litter fiery crash
PHUKET: Two people were injured when the driver of a car lost control and hit a power pole on the byapass road near the Premium Outlet mall, resulting in the car catching fire early this morning. The driver, Amran Dueramae, 27, suffered a serious head injury, while his passenger, Sulaimarn Da-O, 25, sustained minor injuries. Police found several packs of…
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Yaowarat Road to close for three days
PHUKET: Yaowarat Road is scheduled to be closed May 8-10 due to ongoing construction work for the third phase of a project to bury power cables underground in Old Phuket Town. Phuket City Municipality confirmed that the road will be closed from Suriyadej Circle to the Dibuk-Yaowarat intersection. The project, which is a combined effort by Phuket City Municipality, Phuket…
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A-negative blood needed for Canadian crash victim
PHUKET: Vachira Phuket Hospital requires donations of A-negative blood to save the life of a 35-year-old Canadian motorcyclist who was seriously injured in a collision with a 10-wheel truck in Phuket yesterday. “Connelly Bavid Lee was admitted to Vachira Phuket Hospital early yesterday morning with serious injuries to his chest, back, and legs. We have given him four units of…
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B2.4mn Provincial Hall roundabout opens today
PHUKET: The grand opening of the Narisorn roundabout near Phuket Provincial Hall was held at midday today, with Phuket Vice Governor Kajornkiet Rakpanitmanee, Phuket City Deputy Mayor Thavorn Jirapattanasophon and other officials in attendance. Construction of the 2.4-million-baht roundabout was funded last year by the UK-based non-profit Safer Roads Foundation at the island’s deadly Narisorn-Surin intersection. Last year, a total…
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Job-training program graduates prisoners
PHUKET: Certificates were awarded to prisoners who completed a sticker-cutting course yesterday, officials confirmed. The ceremony marked the end of a cooperation course by Phuket Provincial Prison, Southern Media Co Ltd and the Thai Advertising Business Development Association, under the ‘Building Sustainable Future’ project. The course aimed to help prisoners acquire knowledge and employable skills that might be useful after…
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UNESCO announces May public education conference in Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket City Municipality is to host the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Education Conference from May 9-11 at the Phuket Graceland Resort in Patong. Representatives from a number of distinguished international organizations will be providing education-related advice and assistance to the public. “The conference is under the banner ‘New Paradigm of Community Learning Center through Online Lifelong Education’,” said Phuket City Deputy…
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No respite from heat; rains may be delayed
THAILAND: The country continues to suffer scorching temperatures this month and the rainy season may be further delayed due to the lack of moisture in the air, meteorologists have warned. Wattana Kanbua, senior meteorologist and Marine Meteorological Centre director, revealed yesterday that Thailand may start getting some rain from May 14 onward, as the moisture-bearing southwestern wind from the Indian…
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Suspect at large after one killed in Krabi shootout
KRABI: A shootout in the early morning hours today left one man dead in Krabi, allegedly slain by his close friend. Somyot Kuantai, 20, reportedly fired 10 rounds into the home of the victim while he and his family cowered inside. Police are collecting evidence to issue an arrest warrant for the shooter, who reportedly attacked the family after arguing…
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Spin out on slippery road injures teen passenger
PHUKET: A teenage woman was injured in an accident on Thepkrasattri Road at about 8:15pm last night, when a pick-up truck spun out of control on the slippery road, hitting two motorbikes parked on the side. Krittiya Kengreng, 19, a passenger in the pick-up truck, suffered injuries to her right leg and forehead. Rescue workers rushed her to Vachira Phuket…
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Depressed Krabi man dumped by wife threatens to jump from pylon
KRABI: A domestic dispute led a Krabi man to attempt leaping off a high-voltage electric pylon yesterday, confirmed officials from the Naneu Administration Organization (OrBorTor) in Ao Leuk. Prasit Duangjan, a 66-year-old resident of Ao Leuk District, climbed about 30 meters up the pylon, dodging live power lines, and threatened to jump for nearly two hours. Rescue teams from Ao…
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Thailand commemorates Coronation Day
PHUKET: Thailand commemorates Coronation Day (Wun Chatramongkhon) today, which marks the ascension to the throne of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej on May 5, 1950. The auspicious date is a public holiday and this year’s commemorations mark the 66th anniversary of His Majesty’s reign. Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada today gathered officers at Satree Phuket School to pay their respects to HM…
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Austrian paraglider warned over Nai Harn flights
PHUKET: An Austrian expat allegedly running an illegal paragliding business received an official warning from the municipality and narrowly escaped charges on Tuesday. “We were informed by a concerned resident that Kurt Pirker was operating an illegal paragliding business at the windmill in Nai Harn,” said Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos. “We sent out municipality officers to warn him, but he…
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Miracle escape for family of four in Phuket car-flip horror
PHUKET: A family of four escaped serious injury when their car skidded off the road, smashed into trees and flipped over early this morning. The accident occurred at 3:40am on Thepkrasattri Road during a rainstorm. The driver, Somchai Kennadam, 44, said he lost control of the car as he took a bend on the slippery road heading towards Mai Khao.…
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Stealing food not a crime if homeless and hungry – Italian court
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Stealing food not a crime if you’re homeless and hungry – Italian court Phuket Gazette / Reuters ROME: Stealing a little food should not be considered a crime if you really need it, Italy’s highest court has ruled. Ukrainian national Roman Ostriakov was living rough in…
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Stone thower charged after road rage injures family of three
PHUKET: A Phuket man who pelted a car with stones, making the driver lose control and crash, has been charged for assault and causing damage to property after the family of three in the car was hospitalized. Police received a call at 1:10pm yesterday that a car had lost control and hit a power pole in the Laem Hin area,…
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Social media sleuth snares smokey bus
PHUKET: A pollution-emitting tour bus was banned from service after a Facebook user posted a video showing clouds of thick, black smoke emanating from it, confirmed officials on Sunday. Facebook user Joke Moodie, who posted the video, immediately alerted authorities to take action and shut the bus down. Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) Chief Policy Adviser Jaturong Kaewkasi said that…
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