News
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Sponsored 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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Belgian family escapes Phuket surf disaster – all safe
PHUKET: Surin Beach’s fatality-free four-year* record almost came to a tragic end when four tourists, including a 3-year-old boy, were caught in a flash rip current yesterday. “A family of three from Belgium, including their three-year-old son, along with a fourth victim, could have all lost their lives yesterday in a space of a few minutes,” a Surin Beach lifeguard…
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Weekly Phuket beach cleanups important, says Army
PHUKET: The tourism industry would benefit from locals cleaning up Phuket’s beaches every week, said an Army officer after yesterday’s 3,000-person-strong cleanup. “Officials should hold beach cleaning events at least once a week. If locals continued to clean the beach, it would improve the island’s image,” said Somchai Ponatong of the Royal Thai Army’s 41st Military Circle. About 2,700 Phuket…
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Phuket Police on alert for fake B1,000 banknotes
PHUKET: Senior police officers have warned people to beware fake 1,000-baht banknotes in circulation in Trang province, south of Phuket, as the counterfeit notes may make their way onto the island. The warning follows Raksina Chittawech, a tea shop owner in Trang Town, reporting being handed a fake1,000-baht banknote just before she closed shop last week (story here,in Thai). Ms…
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Mixologist explains how to keep a smooth flow behind the bar
Richard Gillam talks about bringing 5-star service to Phuket’s bars. VIDEO: PGTV PHUKET: Many bars and beach clubs in Phuket are tempted by the romance of gastronomic concoctions in the kitchen to bring the same flare to their drink menus as a way to boost profits. However, for the vast majority of them this isn’t the solution, explains Richard Gillam,…
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Ramadan draws to a close throughout Phuket
PHUKET: The sighting of the new moon last night heralded the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, with Eid-al Fitr to be celebrated today. “The traditional sighting of the moon was carried out by representatives at mosques throughout Phuket, ” said Piyadet Chuachalard, Secretary of the Phuket Islamic Committee. “As the moon was sighted, we are celebrating Eid-al…
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Phuket tour bus plows into cars at busy junction
PHUKET: Brake failure of a Phuket tour bus caused of a major pile-up at the Darasamuth Intersection, near Central Festival Phuket, at about 3pm on Saturday. “In total, 10 vehicles were damaged in the accident. The brakes on a bus failed, causing it to crash into vehicles waiting at the intersection,” Wichit Police Deputy Superintendent told the Phuket Gazette. “No…
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Gold the best remedy for England’s suffering Trott
PHUKET: England’s double Olympic champion Laura Trott, who has been suffering with a kidney infection, claimed gold in a dramatic women’s 25km points race at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday. “I can’t believe it. I felt so bad at times and I’m so glad. I’m not even 100 per cent, I’ve not eaten properly for the last two days and…
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Phuket investors urged to verify land plots near national park
PHUKET: The chief of Phuket’s Sirinath National Park, Kitiphat Taraphiban, is urging prospective investors and private landowners to verify whether or not plots they have bought – or are thinking of buying – are deemed to be within the park. The checks can be made at the park’s land verification center, which was established at the order of Nipon Chotibal,…
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Chalong Police officers to be charged for Phuket dive company shakedown
PHUKET: Three officers from the Chalong Police are expected to be charged with extortion and abusing their positions of power by the end of August, the Phuket Gazette has been told. Lt Col Wannop Somjintanakul, the Public-sector Anti Corruption Commission (PACC) officer leading the investigation into the alleged extortion of more than 20 dive instructors at Chalong Pier in March,…
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Deadly car bomb hits Betong
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Deadly car bomb hits Betong The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A car bomb exploded in Betong district in Yala yesterday evening, killing at least two people and wounding 34 others, three of them seriously. The explosion also set nearby buildings on fire and caused major…
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European challengers commit to America’s Cup
PHUKET: Four European teams promised on Friday to compete for the next America’s Cup, ensuring the event would be viable after official challenger Team Australia pulled out because of rising costs. The European rivals from Italy, Sweden, Britain and France said they would cooperate with Oracle Team USA, the holders, to ensure the 35th America’s Cup in 2017 was a…
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Phuket land grab probe: Peninsula not out of the woods yet
PHUKET: Sirinath National Park Chief Kitiphat Taraphiban has confirmed that his office will not withdraw the police complaint against those suspected of illegally issuing land documents to the operators of the long-defunct Phuket Peninsular Spa & Resort. The investigation specifically centers on two people named on the land documents presented as evidence of ownership of the land, he told the…
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No answers for outraged Phuket beach vendors
PHUKET: Dozens of Phuket beach vendors went toe-to-toe with Patong’s mayor yesterday demanding that she protect them and their livelihoods. “I thought the beach vendors would have ideas on how we can support them, but they mostly just complained about me not taking care of them and not protecting them,” said newly-elected Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsab. “I understand that they…
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Hamilton fastest in hot Hungarian practice
PHUKET: Lewis Hamilton started his Hungarian Grand Prix weekend as he meant to continue, with the fastest lap in Friday’s first free practice and championship-leading Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg behind him. The winner of the last two Hungarian Grands Prix lapped the Hungaroring circuit outside Budapest with a best time of one minute 25.814 seconds. Rosberg was second fastest,…
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Opinion: Horrible history of dolphins in Thailand continues in Phuket
PHUKET: Thailand is witnessing an ever-increasing legal and illegal exploitation of local wildlife and marine life. Dolphins have been kept in captivity in Thailand since 1986. The first wild pink dolphin was caught and kept at Laem Singh in Chanthaburi by Vichai Wattanapong at a venue that later became the Oasis Sea World. But it wasn’t until recent years that…
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Thailand ‘Travel Shield’ insurance may be purchased by tourists starting today
PHUKET: The Tourism Authority of Thailand signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC) on yesterday to create low-cost insurance schemes for foreign tourists that start at just 650 baht per person. Thawatchai Aranyik, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), and OIC secretary-general Prawet Ong-atsitthikun signed the MOU for the project, which…
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Olive ridley sea turtle found dead on Phuket beach
PHUKET: Local residents collecting shells on Mai Khao Beach discovered the remains of a female olive ridley turtle washed ashore yesterday. “We believe the turtle died a few days before the local villager found its remains,” said Jittipong Pimarnprom of the Mai Khao Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor). Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers took the remains of the turtle, about 53cm long…
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Phuket Opinion: Going with the flow
PHUKET: When riding my motorbike home yesterday, I found myself lost in thought. With my mind wandering off I’m not sure where (dinner? the weekend?) I missed my turn. Seconds later, without even a moment of hesitation, I turned the bike around, drove 100 meters back, against the traffic, took the missed turn and headed straight for home. The realization…
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Phuket Opinion: Spending a lifetime teaching simplicity
Phra Visutthi Thamma-kanee, 64, is the head of Phuket’s monks and the abbot of Tah Rua Temple in Thalang. He has been in the monkhood since he was 17 years old. He took up the position of acting head of the island’s monks in 2006 and has been their leader since 2008. Here, he talks about what men can gain…
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Phuket Opinion: Service matters
PHUKET: The tuk-tuk gently and purposefully bumped into my motorbike while I was parked in a taxi-only parking zone outside of Patong’s Jungceylon. It had been there for only a few minutes while I ran into the shopping center to grab a bag from a friend, but apparently long enough to have truly offended the driver. With a thuggish arrogance,…
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What university techies can give back to Phuket
Pun Thongchumnum has been the Dean of the Faculty of Technology and Environment of Prince of Songkla University (PSU) Phuket campus since 2012. He has a PhD from PSU Pattani campus and was Associate Dean for Research and Development of IT at PSU from 2006-2012. Here, he talks about the role of the university and the contribution that technology can…
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Big snake rattles Phuket henhouse, and its owner
PHUKET: A local resident received a fright yesterday when she went to investigate what was causing a commotion in her chicken coop near her house in Srisoonthorn, Thalang, in central Phuket, yesterday afternoon. “I heard my ducks and my chickens panicking, so I went to the henhouse to see what was scaring them,” said Wanna Bilabdullar. That’s when she saw…
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Thaksin, Yingluck reunite in Paris
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thaksin, Yingluck reunite in Paris The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Former PM Yingluck Shinawatra has publicly reunited with her brother former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who is in self-imposed exile from Thailand. It was the first time the siblings had been seen together in public for…
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At least 15 killed by shelling of Gaza school
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community At least 15 killed by shelling of Gaza school; toll exceeds 760 Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Gazan authorities said Israeli forces shelled a shelter at a U.N.-run school on Thursday, killing at least 15 people as the Palestinian death toll in the conflict climbed over…
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PLTO chief demands harsh penalties for illegal Phuket taxis
PHUKET: The highest penalty will be sought for all illegal taxi drivers caught operating on the island after August 1 vowed Phuket Land Transportation Office (PLTO) Chief Terayout Prasertphol today. “Police have just been fining and then releasing drivers. However, from August 1 onward, if police apprehend any illegal taxi driver, they must send the case directly to court and…
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Germany Ambassador to Thailand bids farewell to Phuket consul
PHUKET: German Ambassador to Thailand Rolf Schulze bid farewell to Phuket legacy Dirk Naumann on July 18 as Mr Naumann concluded 12 dedicated years on the island as German Honorary Consul. Amb Schulze commended Mr Naumann for his years of service, especially his work after the tsunami. “Without your creativity, engagement, help and human feeling it would not have been…
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Tsunami survivor waits for brother before Phuket savior reunion
PHUKET: British woman Emily Willgrass, who was last week reunited via Facebook with a Phuket woman who took care of her and her brother after the devastating tsunami struck Phuket, has arrived on the island. However, Ms Willgrass has yet to meet her tsunami savior in person. Yupin Sengmuang, who helped Ms Willgrass and her brother Ben while their father…
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Phuket taxi call center on hold, ranks wait for green light
PHUKET: The launch of the Patong taxi call center has been deferred indefinitely as officials scramble to prepare staff, taxi drivers and necessary equipment. The service was slated to kick off this month (story here), following the tear-down of illegal taxi stands throughout Patong and the rest of the island (story here). “We have mapped out the proposed locations of…
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Thanyapura gives back to the community
PHUKET: “Now more than ever, companies need to demonstrate transparency. They must show they are attuned to environmental issues. They should reduce carbon emissions, promote zero waste and host CSR activities to engage the public,” said the President of International Business Affairs of The Nation Multimedia Group Pana Janviroj in the foreword of the latest issue of CSR Thailand magazine.…
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Tourists on ‘walk-in’ visa entries to get 30-day extensions
PHUKET: The chief of the Phuket Immigration Office, Col Sunchai Chokkajaykij, has confirmed that his office has received an official order to begin issuing extensions of up to 30 days to foreigners who enter the country on visa-exemption status. The order, signed by Immigration Bureau Acting Commissioner Sakda Chuenpakdee, is to come into effect from August 29, said Col Sunchai.…
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