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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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Phuket’s Quiksilver Thailand 2011 Surfing Competition finals day today!
PHUKET: The Quiksilver Thailand 2011 Surf Competition finals are being held today – so get on down to Patong Beach in Phuket and catch the region’s best surfers in action! Day three report: All surfing divisions were in action on Friday in the last day of qualifying for today’s finals. Thirteen competitors enjoyed one meter waves in the Women’s Division…
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Phuket Airport conducts tsunami drill
PHUKET: A tsunami evacuation drill conducted at Phuket International Airport yesterday afternoon was declared a success by organizing officials. About 300 people from 34 organizations and agencies took part in the exercise, including Phuket Airport officers, airline staff, business operators, passengers and volunteers. Codenamed PEMEX 2011, short for Phuket Emergency Exercises, the drill was based on the theoretical approach of…
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FC Phuket look to quench PTT Rayong ‘Fire Power’ on Sunday
PHUKET: FC Phuket will host PTT Rayong FC this Sunday evening at Surakul Stadium in a match sure to set the tone for the remainder of the Southern Sea Kirin’s season. Kickoff is set for 6pm. The last time the two sides met was back in April in Rayong. In that match, PTT Rayong “Fire Power” won with a single…
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Thorpedo in the water!
PHUKET: “I’m excited about being part of an Australian team again.” Ian Thorpe will compete in his first international swim meeting since 2006 when he swims at the World Cup in November. The five-time gold medalist has been named in Australia’s squad of 26 for the Asian legs of the World Cup in Singapore, Beijing and Tokyo. Thorpedo with his…
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Surfer Profile: Genevieve Jane Irwin
PHUKET: Nearly 100 of the world’s top surfers are competing at the Quiksilver Thailand Surfing Competition at Patong Beach, Phuket. Fraser Morton profiles a few of the big names at this year’s event. Name: Genevieve Jane Irwin Age: 28 From: Nai Harn, Phuket When not surfing: Radio DJ, 90.5, morning show Division: Women’s Short board Career Competitions: 3 Career Wins:…
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Surfer Profile: Anissa Flynn
PHUKET: Nearly 100 of the world’s top surfers are competing at the Quiksilver Thailand Surfing Competition at Patong Beach, Phuket. Fraser Morton profiles a few of the big names at this year’s event. Name: Anissa Flynn Age: 13 (Goes to Kajonkiet School, Phuket) From: Chalong, Phuket Ambition: Professional surfer Division: Women’s Short board Career Competitions: 5 Career Wins: 3 Fact:…
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Surfer Profile: Teiki Ballian
PHUKET: Nearly 100 of the world’s top surfers are competing at the Quiksilver Thailand Surfing Competition at Patong Beach, Phuket. Fraser Morton profiles a few of the big names at this year’s event. Name: Teiki Ballian Age: 26 From: Phuket, Indonesia (Six months here, six months there). He lives on his family’s surf charter yacht. Division: Short Board and Open…
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Surfer Profile: Tipi Jabrik
PHUKET: Nearly 100 of the world’s top surfers are competing at the Quiksilver Thailand Surfing Competition at Patong Beach, Phuket. Fraser Morton profiles a few of the big names at this year’s event. Name: Tipi Jabrik Age: 33 From: Bali, Indonesia Division: Open Division and Long Board Division Career Competitions: 200 Career Wins: 3 Fact: Last year’s Quiksilver Men’s Open…
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SURF REMINDER: Meet the Phuket Surfers awing spectators at Patong
PHUKET: Surfers vying for the crown of the Quiksilver Thailand 2011 Surf Competition are donning their rash vests and waxing their boards for today’s heats. But wait, why are you not there? Yes, you, our loyal readers? Why are you reading this story? Are you aware you’re missing one of the year’s best sporting events? This is a reminder to…
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Weird World News: Indecent in-flight behavior
PHUKET: Travel by airplane can be tough. Long lines, endless security checks and jet lag can be enough to turn the best of us into agitated, less-tolerant versions of ourselves. But for the most part, we hold our nerve while scoffing down a few prescription pills, sink into our seats and sleep. There are those who don’t want you to…
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Day two of Quiksilver Thailand 2011 Surf Competition in Phuket
PHUKET: Day two (Thursday) of the Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition greeted competitors and spectators with clear skies and 1 to 1.5 meter waves on Patong Beach in Phuket. The Open Longboard Division contestants opened proceedings just after 8am and ran until the semifinalists had been decided. Shortly after the longboard event, the Men’s Open Shortboard Division continued through to the…
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Phuket truck driver killed in roadside crash
PHUKET: The driver of a tractor-trailer was killed last night when his fully-loaded rig crashed into the back of another large truck parked along the side of Thepkrasattri Road in Phuket. The driver’s girlfriend, who was asleep in the back of the cab, survived the crash but is being treated for serious injuries at Vachira Phuket Hospital. Thalang Police identified…
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Phuket “Number 3′ in Thailand for AIDS
PHUKET: Phuket has the third-highest reported incidence per capita of HIV/AIDS in Thailand, with Patong having one of the highest concentrations of people in the province contracting the virus, the Health Office has revealed. “The current statistics for HIV/AIDS-infected patients in Phuket is quite shocking,” Dr Wiwat Seetamanotch, Deputy Director of the Phuket Public Health Office, told a recent meeting…
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Quiksilver surfing competition opens in Phuket
PHUKET: Quiksilver Thailand 2011 Surf Competition hit Patong Beach today with an early morning wake up call and the first day of action. Almost 100 competitors from nine different countries have signed up to compete in the four-day Asian Surfing Championship sanctioned 3-star Quiksilver Thailand 2011 Surf Competition. America, Australia, Burma, France, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and of…
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Phuket Town gets the musical squirts
PHUKET: The light and music fountain under construction at Saphan Hin in Phuket Town will stage its premiere performance next Wednesday. Paiboon Upatising, president of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) announced the news at a meeting with Kathu Municipality on Tuesday. “We are now testing the fountain’s light and sound system to make sure it will be ready for…
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Thanyapura nets international tennis event
PHUKET: Tennis on Phuket has received a spectacular boon with Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club (TSLC) announcing that their facility will host one round of the Chang International Tennis Federation (ITF) Thailand Pro Circuit 2011 tournament. The competition will run from October 29 to November 12 and is the very first tennis event of this caliber to be held in…
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PATA, Skal join forces to forge Phuket Chapter
PHUKET: The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) will hold a joint seminar on developing tourism in Phuket at the Movenpick Resort & Spa on Saturday. Joining forces with the formidable Skål business network, PATA’s aim for the event is to lay the foundation to form a Phuket chapter. PATA CEO Bill Calderwood, who will be attending the event, explained that…
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Phuket’s Pariwat scores a home first
PHUKET: Golfing prodigy Pariwat Pinsawat returned from Hong Kong recently, victorious at the international junior team tournament, The Lion City Cup, to claim yet another first. He was subsequently named the inaugural Brand Ambassador for his home course, Phuket Country Club. The announcement, made on September 10 at a presentation dinner that quickly evolved into an appreciation event, drew attendance…
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Phuket Poll: Enforcement of 80-meter ban ‘a failure’
PHUKET: Local authorities in Phuket have done a woeful job enforcing the ban on construction at sites above 80 meters, an overwhelming majority of Phuket Gazette readers think. In the last online poll, readers were asked: In an effort to reduce landslides, flooding and deforestation, the government in 1996 imposed a ban on the construction of all permanent structures above…
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Phuket Poll: What’s your favorite Thai dish?
PHUKET: In the latest online readers poll, the Phuket Gazette lightens up the subject matter to ask readers which of six popular Thai dishes they would choose to dine on exclusively if stuck on an island for two weeks. To vote in the poll click here or on the icon at the top right of this page. We understand that…
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Phuket update: ‘Kru Kiew’ denies torture charge
PHUKET: A daycare center worker caught on tape hitting her students has confessed to assault, but denies the more serious charge of torture under the Child Protection Action, the Phuket Gazette has learned. Phuket City Police Officer Wirat Tenthong said the teacher, Pranee “Kru Kiew” Jantalert, confessed to harming the children, but denied the abuse constituted a violation of Article…
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Paiboon calls for “dam healthy Phuket’
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Administration Organization President Paiboon Upatising has called for plans to redevelop Bang Wad Dam and Bang Neaw Dam – Phuket’s two main water reservoirs – to include jogging tracks and bike lanes as key recreational features at the sites. Mr Paiboon called for the healthy additions yesterday at a public hearing at Kathu Municipality offices to announce…
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Health checks reveal Phuket police getting heavy
PHUKET: Police officers stationed in Phuket are increasingly becoming overweight and suffering high cholesterol, the Phuket Gazette was told today. The news came on the first day of the annual police health checkup at Chalong Police Station, where 160 officers will undergo health checks today and tomorrow. “The preliminary results of the checks conducted so far show that many of…
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Use of force “necessary’ in Phuket beach eviction: Police
PHUKET: Local police have defended their use of force in removing vendors from a Phuket beach on Sunday, saying that the officers present did only what was needed to arrest the ringleader. Tensions flared when police and municipal officers staged a dawn raid to tear down three restaurants deemed to be encroaching on government land at Karon Beach. The three…
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Phuket Live Wire: Getting connected
PHUKET: WHEN it comes to Internet connections in Phuket, there are three major considerations: reliability, speed and price. In that order. It’s almost impossible to measure reliability. Why? Because glitches in Internet connections these days tend to be one-off. It’s rare to see the whole island go down. Most reliability problems I’ve seen have to do with poorly strung wires,…
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More wet weather for Phuket: TMD
PHUKET: The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a “heavy rain” warning for Phuket and almost all of Thailand. The warning, simply entitled “Heavy Rain over Thailand”, was issued at 5am today by the TMD’s Weather Forecast Bureau in Bangkok. The source of all the precipitation over the central plains region is a monsoon trough slowly moving across central Thailand,…
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Phuket-bound yacht crew rescued from southern Thailand storm
PHUKET: Two foreigners sailing to Phuket from Langkawi in Malaysia are safe after being rescued from turbulent seas by the Royal Thai Navy off the coast of Satun early this morning. Vice Admiral Choomnoom Ardwong of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command at Cape Panwa, Phuket, was notified of a distress call from the sailing yacht Aqua at 1:45am.…
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MoF voices support for Phuket convention center
PHUKET: Ministry of Finance General Inspector Prasit Suebchana met Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkhaosutthirak today to reaffirm that his ministry will fight for Phuket’s convention center to go ahead. The international convention and exhibition center (ICEC) project stalled early this month when the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) announced that the project’s plan had failed its initial environmental…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: DNA tests proposed for migrant workers; Rubber farmers fight on; Mahouts fear losing elephants
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Proposal to DNA-test migrant workers panned The Nation/Phuket GazettePHUKET: Prompted by concerns over the ease with which foreigners will be able to travel in and out of Thailand once the Asean Economic Community (AEC) commences in 2015, the Institute for Forensic Medicine (IFM) is calling on the…
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Hotel supply cap “pointless’ for Phuket
PHUKET: Hotel operators are lukewarm to an effort by the Thai Hotels Association to lobby the government to limit the number of new hotel licenses it issues, saying the real problem is the number of accommodation establishments that operate illegally. Following reports that the association planned to lobby returning Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silpa-archa to help develop the industry…
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